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PRINCETON,     N.     J. 
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BX  9183  .P734  1890 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the 

U.S.A. 

Shelf. Overture    on    revision 


/'■■vv     '. 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  IN  THE  U.S.A. 


OVERTURE  ON  REVISION 


ANSWERS 


PRESBYTERIES 


Published    by  order  of    the  General    Assemhl' 


CINCINNATI,  0.: 

By   the  St  a  i  i:n   ( ILERK. 


PREFACE. 


This  pamphlet  is  published  in  accordance  with  the  following  Reso- 
lution passed  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1890  : 

"Resolved,  That  the  answers  of  the  Presbyteries  to  the  second 
question  propounded  in  the  Overture  of  the  last  Assembly  on  Revis- 
ion be  printed  under  the  direction  of  the  Stated  Clerk,  for  the  use  of 
the  Assembly's  Committee  on  the  Revision  of  the  Confession  of 
Faith." 

In  carrying  out  this  direction,  the  Stated  Clerk  has  endeavored  to 
secure  from  all  the  Presbyteries  interested  the  papers  or  resolutions 
verbatim  as  passed  by  them.  Prefatory  to  the  Answers,  the  following 
documents  will  be  found:  (1)  the  Overture  on  Revision;  (2)  the 
vote  of  the  Presbyteries  upon  the  Overture  on  Revision  ;  (3)  the 
action  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1890,  appointing  the  Special  Com- 
mittee on  Revision  ;  (4)  the  names  of  the  members  of  the  Committee. 
In  accordance  with  the  request  of  the  Committee  on  Revision,  the 
Stated  Clerk  has  placed  a  tabulated  exhibit  of  the  Answers  at  the 
close,  arranged  in  order  of  Chapters  and  Sections  of  the  Confes- 
sion of  Faith.  The  arrangement  of  the  Presbyteries  is  alphabetical 
throughout. 

Wm.  Henry  Roberts. 

CfNCfNNATI,    O.,    Jtlly,    1890. 


(3) 


INTRODUCTORY  DOCUMENTS. 


I.    THE  OVERTURE  OF   INQUIRY  ON  REVISION. 

"Whereas,  Overtures  have  come  to  this  General  Assembly  from  fif- 
teen Presbyteries,  viz.:  Nassau,  Mattoon,  Bellefontaine,  Lake  Supe- 
rior, Boulder,  Portsmouth,  Des  Moines.  Dayton,  Geneva,  Nebraska 
City,  Lansing,  Troy,  Trinity,  Logansport,  Austin,  and  Syracuse,  ask- 
ing for  some  revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith,  and, 

Whereas,  In  the  opinion  of  many  of  our  ministers  and  people, 
some  forms  of  statements  in  our  Confession  of  Faith  are  liable  to  mis- 
understanding, and  expose  our  system  of  doctrine  to  unmerited  crit- 
icism, and, 

Whereas,  Before  any  definite  steps  should  be  taken  for  the  revision 
of  our  Standards,  it  is  desirable  to  know  whether  there  is  any  general 
desire  for  such  revision  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  this  General  Assembly  overture  to  the  Presbyteries 
the  following  questions  : 

i.    Do  you  desire  a  revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith? 

2.  If  so,  in  what  respects,  and  to  what  extent?"  —  [Minutes  1S89, 
P-  79-] 


The  Presby 
Aberdeen. 
Alton. 
Arizona. 
Athens. 
Austin. 
Baltimore. 
Bellefontaine. 
Benicia. 
Binghamton. 
Bismarck. 
Black  Hills. 
Bloomington. 
Boulder. 


THE  VOTE  OF  'I  HE  PRESBYTERIES    ON   REVISION. 

teries  voting  in  the  affirmative  were  : 


Brooklyn. 

Buffalo. 

Cairo. 

Cayuga. 

Cedar  Rapids. 

Central   Dakota. 

Champlain. 

Chemung. 

Chicago. 

Chickasaw. 

Chippewa. 

Choctaw. 

Chile. 


Cincinnati. 

Cleveland. 

Columbia. 

Columbus. 

Council  Bluffs. 

Crawfordsville. 

Dakota. 

Dayton. 

Denver. 

Des  Moines. 

Detroit. 

East  Florida. 

East  Oregon. 


OVERTURE    ON    REVISION. 


Elizabeth. 

Emporia. 

Erie. 

Flint. 

Fargo 

Fort  Dodge. 

Fort  Wayne. 

Freeport. 

Geneva. 

Grand  Rapids. 

Gunnison. 

Hastings. 

Highland. 

Holston. 

Hudson. 

Huron. 

Idaho. 

Indianapolis. 

Iowa. 

Iowa  City. 

Jersey  City. 

Kalamazoo. 

Kearney. 

Knox. 

Lackawanna. 

Lahore. 

Lake  Superior. 

Lansing. 

Larned. 

Lehigh. 

Lima. 

Logansport. 


Los  Angeles. 

Louisville. 

Lyons. 

Mahoning. 

Mankato. 

Marion. 

Mattoon. 

Maumee. 

Mexico. 

Milwaukee. 

Monroe. 

Montana. 

Morris  and  Orange. 

Muncie. 

Nassau. 

Nebraska  City. 

New  Albany. 

Newark. 

New  York. 

Niagara. 

Niobrara. 

North  River. 

Northumberland. 

Olympia. 

Oregon. 

Otsego. 

Ottawa. 

Peking. 

Petoskey. 

Pueblo. 

Puget  Sound. 

Rio  Grande. 


Rochester. 

Saginaw. 

St.  Clairsville. 

St.  Lawrence. 

St.  Paul. 

Santa  Fe. 

Schuyler. 

Solomon. 

Southern  Dakota. 

Southern  Oregon. 

South  Florida. 

Steuben. 

Steubenville. 

Stockton. 

Syracuse. 

Transylvania. 

Troy. 

Union. 

Utah. 

Utica. 

Vincennes. 

Washington  City. 

Waterloo. 

Westchester. 

West  Jersey. 

West  Virginia. 

White  Water. 

Winnebago. 

Winona. 

Wood  River. 

Zanesville. — 134. 


The  Presbyteries  voting  in  the  negative  were 


Allahabad. 

Allegheny. 

Atlantic. 

Blairsville. 

Boston. 

Butler. 

Cape  Fear. 

Carlisle. 


Cherokee  Nation. 

Chester. 

Chillicothe. 

Clarion. 

Corisco. 

Dubuque. 

Duluth. 

Ebenezer. 


Fairfield. 
Genesee. 
Huntingdon. 
Kansas  City. 
Kingston. 
Kittanning. 
Kolhapur. 
La  Crosse. 


6 


ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 


Lodiana. 

Long  Island. 

McClelland. 

Madison. 

Monmouth. 

Muskogee. 

Neosho. 

New  Brunswick. 

New  Castle. 

Newton. 

North  Laos. 

North  Texas. 

Omaha. 

Osborne. 

Ozark. 


Palmyra. 

Pembina. 

Peoria. 

Philadelphia. 

Philadelphia  Central. 

Philadelphia  North. 

Pittsburg. 

Platte. 

Portsmouth. 

Red  River. 

Redstone. 

Rock  River. 

Sacramento. 

St.  Louis. 

San  Francisco. 


The  Presbyteries  failing  to  respond  were 
Furrukhabad.  Shanghai. 

Ningpo. 

The  Presbyteries  declining  to  vote  were  : 
Alaska.  Canton. 

Albany.  Catawba. 

Birmingham. 


San  Jose. 

Shenango. 

Siam. 

Southern  Virginia. 

Springfield. 

Topeka. 

Trinity. 

Washington. 

Wellsborough. 

Western  Africa. 

Westminster. 

White  River. 

Wooster. 

Yadkin.— 68. 


Shantung. — 4. 


Oroomiah. 
Zacatecas. — 7. 


III.    ACTION  OF  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  OF   1890,   APPOINTING  THE 
SPECIAL  COMMITTEE  ON  REVISION. 

"  The  Committee  to  which  was  referred  the  several  resolutions  on 
the  appointment  of  a  Committee  on  Revision,  presented  the  following 
Report : 

Your  Committee  respectfully  report  that  they  have  unanimously 
agreed  upon  the  following  preambles  and  resolutions,  the  adoption  of 
which  they  recommend  : 

Whereas,  The  last  General  Assembly  directed  an  Overture  to  be 
transmitted  to  the  Presbyteries  in  these  words  :  i.  Do  you  desire  a 
Revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith?  2.  If  so,  in  what  respects,  and 
to  what  extent?     And, 

Whereas,  It  appears  from  the  Report  of  the  Special  Committee 
appointed  to  canvass  the  answers  of  the  Presbyteries  to  said  Overture, 
that  134  Presbyteries  have  answered  "yes"  to  the  first  question; 
therefore, 


OVERTURE    ON    REVISION.  7 

Resolved,  i.  That  a  Committee  composed  of  one  member  of  the 
Assembly  from  each  Synod — to  wit,  nineteen  ministers  and  ten  elders 
— be  appointed  by  the  Moderator,  to  nominate  to  this  Assembly  a 
Committee  consisting  of  fifteen  ministers  and  ten  elders,  which  shall 
be  called  "The  Assembly's  Committee  on  Revision  of  the  Confession 
of  Faith";  which  Committee,  when  constituted  by  the  General 
Assembly,  shall  consider  the  suggestions  made  by  the  Presbyteries  in 
their  answers  to  the  second  of  the  above  questions,  and  formulate  and 
report  to  the  General  Assembly  of  1891,  such  alterations  and  amend- 
ments to  the  Confession  of  Faith  as  in  their  judgment  may  be  deemed 
desirable. 

2.  This  Committee  on  Revision  shall  meet  at  the  call  of  a  tempo- 
rary Chairman  to  be  named  by  the  Moderator  of  this  General  Assem- 
bly, and  shall,  upon  meeting,  appoint  their  own  permanent  Chairman, 
and  shall  have  power  to  fill  vacancies. 

3.  This  Committee  on  Revision  is  instructed  to  meet  at  an  early 
date,  not  later  than  October  31,  1890,  and  diligently  to  pursue  its 
work,  that  it  may  report  promptly  at  the  meeting  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  1891.     And, 

Whereas,  Sixty-eight  Presbyteries  have  answered  "no"  to  the  first 
of  the  above  questions,  and  sixty-nine  [ninety-three]  Presbyteries  of 
those  answering  "yes,"  have  expressly  said  that  they  desire  no 
change  in  the  Confession  of  Faith  to  be  made  that  impairs  the  integ- 
rity of  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  therein;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  this  Committee  on  Revision  be  and  hereby  are 
instructed  that  they  shall  not  propose  any  alterations  or  amendments, 
that  will  in  any  way  impair  the  integrity  of  the  Reformed  or  Calvin- 
istic  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Confession  of  Faith." — [Minutes 
1890,  pp.  85-86.] 


IV.    THE  SPECIAL  COMMITTEE  ON  REVISION. 

Temporary  Chairman,  Pres.  Wm.  C.  Roberts,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

MINISTERS. 

Rev.  Prof.  William  Henry  Green,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Synod  of  New  Jersey. 
Pres.  Thomas  S.  Hastings,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Synod  of  New  York. 
Rev.  Prof.  Matthew  B.  Riddle,  D.  D.,  Synod  of  Pennsylvania. 
Rev.  Prof.  Willis  J.  Beecher,  D.D.,  Synod  of  New  York. 
Rev.  Prof.  Edward  D.  Morris,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Synod  of  Ohio. 
Rev.  Prof.  Herrick  Johnson,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Synod  of  Illinois. 
Rev.  Prof.  William  Alexander,  D.D.,  Synod  of  the  Pacific. 


8  ANSWERS    OF     PRESBYTERIES. 

Pres.  Francis  L.  Patton,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Synod  of  New  Jersey. 

I'res.  William  C.  Roberts,  D  D.,  LL.D.,  Synod  of  Illinois. 

Rev.  William  E.  Moore,  D.D.,  Synod  of  Ohio. 

Rev.  Henry  J    Van  Dyke,  D.D.,  Synod  of  New  York. 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Erskine,  D.D.,  Synod  of  Pennsylvania. 

Rev.  James  T.  Leftwich,  D.D.,  Synod  of  Baltimore. 

Rev.  Samuel  J.  Niccolls,  D.D.,  LL.D  ,  Synod  of  Missouri. 

Rev.  Edward  R.  Burkhalter,  D.D.,  Synod  of  Iowa. 

RULING  ELDERS. 

Ex-Justice  William  Strong,  Synod  of  Baltimore. 
Ex-Senator  Samuel  J.  R.  McMillan,  Synod  of  Minnesota. 
Judge  Alfred  Hand,  Synod  of  Pennsylvania.      ' 
Emerson  E.  White,  Esq.,  Synod  of  Ohio. 
Judge  Henry  B.  Sayler,  Synod  of  Indiana. 
Winthrop  S.  Oilman,  Esq.,  Synod  of  New  York. 
Barker  Gummere,  Esq.,  Synod  of  New  Jersey. 
William  Ernst,  Esq.,  Synod  of  Kentucky. 
George  Junkin,  Esq.,  Synod  of  Pennsylvania. 
Charles  M.  Charnley,  Esq.,  Synod  of  Illinois. 

[Minutes  1890,/.  127.] 


ANSWERS  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIES. 


The  following  are  the  answers  of  the  Presbyteries  to  Question  No.  2, 
of  the  Overture  on  the  Revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith,  viz.:  "  If 
so,  in  what  respects,  and  to  what  extent?" 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    ABERDEEN. 

Desiring  revision,  we  are,  nevertheless,  opposed  to  any  attempt  to 
remodel  the  Confession  that  will  in  any  way  destroy  its  doctrinal 
integrity.  While  we  do  not  state  the  exact  wording  of  the  revision, 
we  can  indicate  to  what  extent  we  desire  to  see  it. 

Chapter  III.  ought  to  be  revised  by  omitting  the  last  clause  of  Sec- 
tion 3,  and  all  of  Section  4. 

These  omitted  passages  teach  the  doctrine  of  reprobation  or  abso- 
lute foreordination  to  everlasting  death.  We  recommend  the  omission 
of  this  doctrine  for  the  reason  that  it  is  not  essential  to  Christianity. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  Calvinism,  as  there  are  thirty  Calvinistic 
creeds  in  existence,  and  but  three  teach  it.  It  is  not  necessary  to  a 
belief  in  the  doctrine  of  election. 

In  Chapter  X.,  we  recommend  the  substitution  of  the  following 
instead  of  Section  3,  viz.:  "All  elect  persons  who  are  inca- 
pable of  being  outwardly  called  by  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  are 
regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ,  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  worketh 
when  and  where  and  how  he  pleaseth."  It  matters  not  how  we  may 
try  to  evade  it,  this  section  teaches,  as  it  was  intended  by  its  framers 
to  teach,  that  there  are  some  infants  dying  in  infancy  who  are  not 
elect.  But  the  prime  reason  for  changing  this  section  is  that  our 
Church  believes  and  teaches  that  all  infants  dying  in  infancy  are  saved. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  is  ambiguous.  Equally  able  and  scholarly 
minds  differ  as  to  its  meaning.  We  recommend  a  restatement  that 
will  make  its  teachings  clear. 

We  recommend  the  omission  from  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  of  the 
second  clause  referring  to  the  Pope  as  Antichrist. 

Then,  again  :  We  would  favor  the  addition  to  the  Confession  of 
the  central  truth  of  Christianity,  namely,  the  love  of  God  in  Jesus 
Christ. 


10  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

These  are  the  main  points  where  we  desire  to  see  our  Confession 
revised.  There  might  be  others,  but  if  these  changes  were  made,  they 
would  relieve  it  of  much  that  is  objectionable,  and  make  it  a  true 
standard  of  the  modern  Presbyterian  Church.  Such  changes  would 
in  no  way  weaken  the  system  that  our  fathers  believed  in,  and  in 
which  we  believe  as  much  as  they  ever  did. 

They  would  place  us  in  the  true  light  before  the  whole  religious 
world,  and  when  assailed  we  could,  without  hesitancy,  turn  to  the 
inspired  page  and  point  out  the  verse  that  teaches  without  ambiguity 
what  we  believe. 

Further,  we  recommend  that  the  General  Assembly  appoint  a  large 
and  representative  committee,  to  which  shall  be  intrusted  the  whole 
question  as  to  the  extent  of  revision  and  the  particular  form  it  shall 
take  before  submission  to  the  Presbyteries  for  ratification,  provided 
that  : 

I.     The  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Confes- 
sion shall  be  inviolate. 

II.     The  sections  named  in  Chapters  III.  and  X.  be  modified  so 
as  to  harmonize  with  the  other  parts  of  the  Confession. 

III.  God's  love  for  the  world,  and  his  command  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  every  creature  be  given  a  full  and  specific  treatment. 

Attest:  R.  H.  Hooke,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    ALTON. 

i.  That  no  changes  be  made  in  the  venerable  symbol  which  shall 
not  preserve  inviolate  the  system  of  doctrine  therein  contained. 

2.  That  consistently  with  this,  those  expressions  and  statements, 
especially  in  the  third  and  tenth  chapters,  which  are  infelicitous,  be 
modified  or  eliminated. 

3.  That  God's  love  for  the  world,  his  full  invitation  to  all,  his  com- 
mand to  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature,  and  the  responsibility  of 
each  one  for  individual  salvation  or  the  reverse,  be  given  full  and 
definite  expression.  Attest:  Ira  C.  Tyson,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    ARIZONA. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  3,  add  the  words  "  for  their  sins." 
Chapter  III.,  Section  6,  eliminate  the  last  sentence,  beginning  with 
the  word,  "  neither." 

Chapter  III.,  omit  Sections  4  and  7. 


ABERDEEN    TO    AUSTIN.  11 

In  place  of  omitted  sections,  insert  an  expression  of  the  love  of 
God  and  free  offer  of  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ. 
Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  omit  the  word  "elect." 
Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  omit. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  1,  omit  the  words  "  and  these  only." 
Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  omit  all  after  the  words  "Jesus  Christ." 
Attest:  I.  T.  Whittemore,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    ATHENS. 

Chapter  III.  We  desire  that  the  doctrine  concerning  God's  Decree 
should  be  guarded  by  the  insertion  of  such  a  section  as  that  suggested 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Brooklyn,  viz.: — 

"  God's  eternal  decree  hindereth  no  one  from  accepting  Christ  as  he  is 
offered  to  all  men  for  salvation  in  the  gospel,  nor  ought  it  to  be  so 
construed  as  to  contradict  the  declarations  of  Scripture,  that  Christ 
is  the  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  and  that  God  is  not 
willing  that  any  should  perish,  but  that  all  should  come  to  repentance." 

Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  should  be  so  revised  as  to  set  forth  plainly  the 
belief  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  that  all  infants  dying  in  infancy, 
and  all  other  persons  who  from  birth  to  death  are  incapable  of  being 
outwardly  called  by  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  are  elect,  and  are  saved 
by  Christ  through  the  Spirit,  who  worketh  when  and  where  and  how 
he  pleaseth. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  the  words  "  much  less  can  men  not  profess- 
ing the  Christian  religion  "  should  be  dropped  from  the  revised  Con- 
fession. 

We  do  not  desire  any  revision  which  would  eliminate  from  the 
Confession  any  essential  features  of  the  system  of  doctrine  now 
taught  therein. 

We  think  it  proper  to  state  that  some  members  of  the  Presbytery 
believe  that  a  briefer  and  simpler  creed  would  be  better  for  the  use  of 
the  Church  than  our  present  Confession. 

Attest:  David  R.  Moore,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBVTERY  OF  AUSTIN. 

In  reply  to  the  second  question,  "In  what  respects,  and  to  what 
extent?"  we  answer  as  follows: 

1.  We  desire  that  the  system  of  doctrine,  as  contained  in  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith,  be  preserved  in  its  full  integrity. 


12  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

2.  That  those  forms  of  statement,  especially  in  the  third  and  tenth 
Chapters,  which  convey,  or  seem  to  many  to  convey,  erroneous  and 
unscriptural  implications,  and  which  are  occasions  of  stumbling,  be 
modified  or  eliminated. 

3.  That  the  love  of  God  for  the  whole  world,  and  his  command  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature,  be  given  fuller  and  more  definite 
expression. 

4.  We  prefer,  however,  that  the  extent  and  definite  form  of  these 
changes,  to  be  submitted  to  the  Presbyteries  for  constitutional  ratifi- 
cation, shall  be  left  to  the  wisdom  of  such  large  and  representative 
committee  as  the  General  Assembly  shall  appoint. 

Attest :  John  Giffen,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF   BALTIMORE. 

The  Committee  on  the  Revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith  beg 
leave  to  report : 

The  first  question  of  the  Assembly's  Overture,  viz.:  "Do  you 
desire  a  revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith?"  the  Presbytery  has 
already  answered  in  the  affirmative.  Your  Committee  was  appointed 
for  the  sole  purpose  of  formulating  an  answer  to  the  second  question, 
viz.:  "If  so,  in  what  respects,  and  to  what  extent?''  Under  the 
action  of  the  Presbytery,  which  the  Committee  accepted  as  their 
instructions,  they  regarded  themselves  as  bound  to  propose  the  mini- 
mum of  change,  and  that  confined  to  matters  which  would  not  affect 
the  system  of  doctrine  known  as  the  Reformed  or  Calvinistic  system 
in  its  historic  sense,  as  hitherto  held  by  us. 

The  Presbytery  recognizes  that  there  are  some  who  insist  on 
changes  in  the  Confession  which,  in  our  judgment,  would  mutilate,  if 
not  destroy,  its  system  of  doctrine.  With  such  radical  revisionists  we 
have  no  sympathy,  and  to  their  demands  we  can  not  yield.  There 
are  others,  however,  holding  the  Calvinistic  system  in  its  integrity, 
who  desire  for  their  own  relief  and  the  removal  of  hindrances  in  their 
work,  certain  omissions,  additions  or  changes  of  phraseology  which 
would  make  the  real  import  of  the  Confession  more  clear,  and  so 
obviate  occasions  of  misunderstanding.  To  their  desires  the  Presby- 
tery is  willing  to  yield  so  far  as  fidelity  to  the  truth  will  admit,  in  the 
interests  of  peace  and  charity  and  brotherly  kindness,  and  to  the"  end 
that  all  the  true  friends  of  Calvinism  may  be  consolidated  and  a  united 
front  presented  to  its  impugners.  In  accordance  with  this  position 
they  recommend  the  revision  of  the  Confession  in  the  following  par- 
ticulars and  to  the  following  extent : 


AUSTIN    TO    BALTIMORE.  13 

i.  That  in  Chapter  III.  the  last  clause  of  Section  3  and  the  whole 
of  Section  4  be  omitted,  and  that  the  first  clause  of  Section  3  be  pre- 
fixed to  Section  5,  so  that  Section  5  will  read  "  By  the  decree  of  God, 
for  the  manifestation  of  his  glory,  some  men  and  angels  are  predestin- 
ated unto  everlasting  life.  Those  of  mankind  that  are,"  etc.  The 
omission  of  these  portions  is  suggested,  nor  because  when  rightly 
understood  they  are  either  untrue  or  unscriptural,  but  because  the 
expressions  employed  are  often  misunderstood,  and  the  whole  truth 
they  are  designed  to  teach  is  more  fully  and  therefore  more  clearly 
unfolded  in  the  following  sections,  and  expressed  in  such  language  as 
to  obviate  misunderstanding  on  the  part  of  all  who  really  accept  the 
doctrines  themselves.  For  the  same  reason  the  omission  of  the  last 
sentence  of  Section  6  is  recommended. 

2.  That  Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  be  amended  so  as  to  read,  "Such 
elect  persons  as  are  incapable  of  being  outwardly  called  by  the  minis- 
try of  the  Word  are  regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ  through  the 
Spirit,  who  worketh  when,  and  where,  and  how  he  pleaseth."  This 
change  is  suggested  to  obviate  the  misunderstanding  of  the  phrase 
"  elect  infants." 

3.  That  Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  be  amended  by  omitting  the  latter 
part  of  it,  beginning  with  the  words,  "  Much  less,"  etc.,  because  of 
its  ambiguity  as  shown  by  the  different  interpretations   put   upon  it. 

4.  That  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  be  amended  so  as  to  read, 
"There  is  no  other  head  of  the  church  but  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Nor  can  the  Pope  of  Rome  in  any  sense  be  head  thereof,  and  in 
claiming  such  headship  he  exalteth  himself  in  the  church  against 
Christ,  and  all  that  is  called  God  " 

5.  That  a  new  section  on  the  proclamation  of  the  gospel  be  intro- 
duced in  some  appropriate  place,  say  as  Section  7  of  Chapter  VII., 
in  the  following  or  equivalent  terms:  ""God,  having  no  pleasure  in 
the  death  of  any,  but  loving  the  world,  and  desiring  all  men  to  be 
saved  and  to  come  unto  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  and  having  pro- 
vided in  Jesus  Christ  a  propitiation  sufficient  for  the  world,  has  given 
commission  to  the  church  under  the  New  Testament  dispensation  to 
preach  the  gospel  of  his  grace  unto  all  nations,  wherein  he  freely 
offers  to  all  men  forgiveness  and  eternal  life  through  repentance  and 
faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.''  The  following  may  be  inserted  as 
proof-texts : 

Ezekiel  xxxiii.  11. — "As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  I  have  no 
pleasure  in  the  death  of  the  wicked;  but  that  the  wicked  turn  from 
his  way  and  live.'' 

John  iii.  16. — "  For  God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only 


14  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but 
have  everlasting  life." 

i  Tim.  ii.  4. — "  Who  will  have  all   men  to  be  saved  and  to  come 
unto  the  knowledge  of  the  truth." 

1  John  ii.  2.  —  "And  he  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins  :    and  not 
for  ours  only,  but  also  for  [the  sins  of]  the  whole  world." 

Matt,  xxviii.  19. — "Go  ye,  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations." 

Mark  xvi.  15.  —  "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel  to 
every  creature." 

Also  Acts  ii.  38;  xvi.  31;  Romans  iii.  25-26;    1  John  i.  9;   Rev. 
xxii.  17,  etc. 

Adopted  by  the  Presbytery,  April,  1890. 

Attest  :  J.  Pym  Carter,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  BELLEFONTAINE. 

While  we  would  wish  that  the  order  of  topics  in  the  Confession 
were  so  arranged  as  to  place  the  chapter  on  "God's  Eternal  Decree" 
after  the  chapters  on  Creation  and  the  Fall,  so  as  to  make  the  Con- 
fession on  its  face  infralapsarian,  yet  we  suggest  only  the  following  or 
similar  amendments: 

Chapter  III.,  Section  3.  Either  omit  all  after  "life,"  or  substitute 
"  and  the  rest  are  left  to  perish  in  their  sins." 

Chapter  III.,  Section  4.     Omit  all. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  5.  Substitute  "not  because  of"  for  "with- 
out.'' 

Chapter  III.,  Section  6.      Omit  the  last  sentence. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  7.  Insert  after  "whereby"  the  words,  "in 
infinite  wisdom,  goodness  and  truth,"  and  add  at  the  close,  "yet  so 
as  thereby  neither  does  God  hinder  any  one  from  accepting  Christ, 
nor  is  the  sufficiency  of  his  provision  of  salvation  in  Christ  for  all  men 
in  any  way  impaired,  nor  is  there  put  upon  the  free  offer  of  this  sal- 
vation any  limitation  whatever,  but  whosoever  will,  may  accept  it 
and  be  saved." 

Chapter  X.  Section  1,  substitute  for  "and  those  only"  after  "life'' 
the  words  "when  they  are  capable  of  being  called  by  the  Word." 

Chapter  X.  Section  2,  to  read  thus,  "  This  effectual  call  is  of  God's 
free  and  special  grace,  not  from  anything  at  all  foreseen  in  man,  who 
is  altogether  passive  in  the  act  of  regeneration,  wherein,  being  quick- 
ened and  renewed  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  is  enabled  to  answer  God's 
call  and  to  embrace  the  grace  offered  and  conveyed  in  it." 

Chapter  X.  Section  3,  to  read  "All  infants  dying  in  infancy,  and  all 


BELLEFONTAINE    TO    BINGHAMTON.  15 

persons  incapable,  from  birth  to  death,  of  being  outwardly  called  by 
the  ministry  of  the  Word,  are  regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ  through 
the  Spirit,  who  worketh  when,  where,  and  how  he  pleaseth.'' 

Chapter  X.  Section  4,  substitute  "not  accepting"  for  "nut  professing." 
Chapter  XXV.  change  "  Catholic"  to  "  General"  throughout. 
Chapter  XXV.  Section  6,  omit  all  after  "  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
Chapter  XXVIII.  Section  r,  change  the  clause  after  "  Jesus  Christ  " 
so  as  to  read  "  not  only  for  the  solemn  recognition  of  the  baptized  as 
a  member  of  the  visible  church,"  and  conform  the  language  of  the 
Catechisms  to  this  change. 

Shorter  Catechism,  Question  107,  and  Longer,  Question  196.  In 
these  questions  and  their  answers,  after  the  word  "conclusion"  insert 
the  words  "appended  to"  instead  of  "of,  so  they  shall  read  "  The 
conclusion  appended  to  the  Lord's  Prayer,"  etc. 

Attest:  S.  J.   Bogle,  Stated  Clerk. 

THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  BENICIA. 

In  replying  to  the  second  question  propounded  by  the  General 
Assembly,  the  Presbytery  of  Benicii  takes  occasion  to  reaffirm  its 
loyalty  to  the  Standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  its  hearty 
acceptance  of  the  Confession  of  Faith  as  containing  the  system  of 
doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  We  desire  therefore  that 
whatever  changes  it  may  be  found  necessary  to  make,  in  the  doctrinal 
statements  of  the  Confession,  shall  be  confined  within  as  narrow  limits 
as  possible. 

Attest:  H.  B.  McBriue,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  BINGHAMTON. 

The  Committee  of  the  Presbytery  of  Binghamton,  to  whom  was 
referred  the  second  question  in  the  Overture  of  the  General  Assembly 
in  respect  to  revision,  viz: 

In  what  respect  and  to  what  extent  do  you  desire  such  revision  ? 

Would  recommend  for  the  adoption  of  Presbytery  the  following 
answer : 

I.  We  do  not  desire  any  such  change  in  the  Confession  as  will 
impair  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  it,  which  system  we  heartily 
receive  and  adopt. 

II.  We  do  desire  the  modification  or  omission  of  certain  state- 
ments which  we  regard  as  not  demanded  by,  and  as  subjecting  our 
system  of  doctrine  itself  to  undeserved  reproach,  as  well  as  causing 
stumbling  to  anxious  souls. 


16  ANSWERS    OK    PRESBYTERIES. 

III.  While  disavowing  any  attempt  at  revision  ourselves,  we 
would  respectfully  indicate  as  changes  that  we  deem  important : 

i.  That  in  Chapter  III,  Section  3,  the  words  "  for  their  sins"  be 
inserted  before  the  word  "  foreordained." 

2.  That  Sections  4  and  7  of  the  same  chapter  be  omitted. 

3.  That  either  in  the  place  of  Section  7,  or  in  some  other  suitable 
place,  there  be  inserted  an  explicit  declaration  of  the  love  of  God  for 
all  men,  and  of  the  fullness,  suitableness  and  sufficiency  of  the  pro- 
vision made  in  Jesus  Christ  for  all. 

4.  That  Chapter  X,  Section  3,  be  so  amended  as  to  remove  any 
supposed  ambiguity  which  to  some  seems  to  allow  the  inference  that 
there  are  infants  dying  in  infancy  that  are  lost. 

5.  That  all  after  the  first  paragraph  in  Section  4  of  the  same  chap- 
ter be  omitted. 

6.  That  those  statements  which  are  contained  in  Chapter  XXV 
concerning  the  "  Pope  of  Rome"  be  omitted,  as  not  demanded  in  a 
Confession  of  the  Church  faith. 

The  Committee  further  recommend  that  the  Presbytery  unite  with 
other  Presbyteries  in  the  expression  of  a  most  earnest  desire  for  a 
short,  simple  and  plain  creed,  which  shall  contain  the  fundamental 
doctrines  of  the  Westminster  Confession ;  and  which  shall  be  used, 
not  as  a  substitute  for  that  Confession,  but  as  a  helpful  supplement  to 
it  in  the  work  of  the  Church. 

Adopted  April  22,  1890.      A  correct  copy  : 

John  McVey,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF   BISMARK. 

Replying  to  the  second  question  :  We  would  suggest  dropping  the 
word  'elect"  where  it  occurs  before  "infants";  also  the  leaving 
unsaid  much  that  finds  place  relative  to  the  Divine  decrees  ;  also  the 
removing  of  all  those  passages  that  affirm,  or  imply,  the  impossibility 
of  salvation  without  a  knowledge  of  the  historic  Christ  and  the  Scrip- 
tures. By  way  of  addition,  we  would  suggest  the  giving  of  a  much 
greater  relative  prominence  and  emphasis  to  the  great  Scriptural 
doctrines  of  God's  love  and  grace  to  the  world;  man's  free  agency 
and  consequent  responsibility;  the  salvability  of  all  who  truly  repent 
and  believe;  the  Church's  duty  to  evangelize  the  heathen  ;  and  the 
duty  and  privilege  of  every  believer  to  contribute  to  the  missionary 
work  of  the  Church  at  home  and  abroad. 

Attest:  John  B.  Hobart,  Stated  Clerk. 


BISMARK    TO    BLOOMINGTON.  17 

THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  THE  BLACK   HILLS. 

We  recommend  in  our  answer  to  the  Assembly's  Overture,  that  we 
declare  our  firm  adherence  to  the  Calvinistic  system  of  theology 
taught  in  our  Standards,  as  being  the  system  of  truth  taught  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures. 

Chapter  III.  Section  3,  omit  the  last  clause  after  the  word   "  life  " 

Chapter  III.  Section  4,  strike  out  the  entire  section. 

Chapter  XXV.  Section  6,  omit  all  after  the  clause,  "There  is  no 
other  head  of  the  church  but  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

We  favor  revision  : — 1.  Only  so  far  as  shall  be  necessary  to  express 
the  truth,  where  our  Confession  is  unsatisfactory,  or  to  remove  ambig- 
uous statements. 

2.  So  as  to  remove  all  supralapsarian  error. 

3.  So  that  the  great  love  of  God  to  men,  his  good  faith  in  offer- 
ing the  gospel  to  all,  and  his  provision  for  all  in  the  atonement  made 
by  Christ,  shall  receive  a  full  and  adequate  statement. 

4.  So  that  our  Confession  shall  not  teach  either  that  some  infants 
are  not  elect,  or  that  heathen  who  are  "diligent  to  frame  their  lives 
according  to  the  light  of  nature,"  can  not  be  saved. 

Attest  :  Jno.  B.  Pomeroy,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    BLOOMINGTON. 

Replying  to  the  second  question,  "  In  what  respects,  and  to  what 
extent?"  Bloomington  Presbytery  would  answer  that  it  is  the  judg- 
ment of  the  Presbytery  that  the  extent  to  which  the  Confessional 
change  shall  be  carried,  and  the  particular  form  it  shall  take  before 
submission  to  the  Presbyteries  for  constitutional  ratification,  may 
safely  be  left  to  such  large  and  representative  committee  as  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  shall  appoint,  it  being  provided  that  in  any  proposed 
change  at  least  the  three  following  points  shall  be  secured  : 

1.  That  the  full  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrine  as  contained 
in  our  Confession  of  Faith  be  kept  inviolate. 

2.  That  those  forms  of  statements,  especially  in  the  third  and 
tenth  chapters,  which  convey,  or  seem  to  convey,  erroneous  or 
unscriptural  implications,  and  which  are  occasions  of  stumbling,  be 
modified  or  eliminated  ;  and, 

3.  That  God's  love  for  the  world  and  his  command  to  preach  the 
Gospel  to  every  creature  be  given  fuller  and  more  definite  expression. 

Attest:  W.  A.  Hunter,  Stated  Clerk. 


18  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    BOULDER. 


i.  That  we  affirm  our  firm  allegiance  to  the  system  of  doctrine 
contained  in  the  Confession  of  Faith  as  the  system  of  doctrine  con- 
tained in  the  Scriptures,  and  that  we  desire  the  revision  to  be  accom- 
plished agreeably  to  this  principle. 

2.  That  we  desire  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  to  be  expressed  as 
far  as  possible  in  the  plain  and  simple  language  of  Scripture,  and 
that  all  doctrines  be  omitted  therefrom  which  are  deductions,  however 
logical,  rather  than  plainly  revealed  truth.  We  believe  that  Confes- 
sional statement  should  be  confined  to  positive  Scripture  teaching. 

3.  We  call  attention  to  the  following  chapters  and  sections,  among 
others,  that  should  be  revised,  and  we  so  recommend  : 

In  Chapter  III.,  Sections  3,  4,  6  and  7. 

In  Chapter  VI.,  Sections  1,  2  and  4. 

In  Chapter  X.,  Sections  3  and  4. 

In  Chapter  XVI.,  Section  7. 

In  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6. 

In  Chapter  XXX.,  Section  2. 

In  Chapter  XXIX.,  we  recommend  a  revision  that  shall  omit  all 
reference  to  the  Roman  Church  as  such  by  name,  and  that  all  other 
portions  of  the  Confession  be  changed  to  conform  thereunto. 

4.  We  recommend  also  that  Presbytery  express  its  desire  for 
additional  chapters  that  shall  set  forth  the  great  commission — the  truth 
that  God  is  love  (see  1  John  iv.  8)— and  that  God  loves  the  world, 
as  set  forth  in  John  iii.  16,  and  a  section  setting  forth  that  the  atone- 
ment of  Christ  is  sufficient  for  all,  adapted  to  all,  to  be  freely  offered 
to  all,  and  efficient  to  all  those  that  believe. 

5.  Furthermore,  in  accordance  with  the  above,  and  such  other 
suggestions  as  may  meet  the  approval  of  the  General  Assembly,  we, 
the  Presbytery  of  Boulder,  do  hereby  overture  the  General  Assembly 
to  prepare  and  send  down  to  the  Presbyteries  for  adoption,  a  draft  of 
a  revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith. 

Attest:  Jno.  G.  Reid,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    BROOKLYN. 

In  answer  to  the  second  question,  this  Presbytery  emphatically 
declares : 

First.  That  we  do  not  desire  and  should  not  consent  to  any  such 
revision  as  would  change  or  impair  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in 
the  Confession,  which  we  sincerely  receive  and  adopt  in  all  the  essen- 


BOULDER    TO    BROOKLYN.  1 '.I 

tial  and  necessary  articles  thereof  as  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in 
the   Holy  Scriptures. 

In  entire  consistency  with  this  declaration  we  believe  and  declare — 

Secondly.  That  there  are  in  the  Confession  some  statements  of  doc- 
trine which  can  be  and  ought  to  be  amended  and  improved  so  as  to 
bring  them  more  into  harmony  with  the  teaching  of  Scripture  and 
with  the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian  Church;  and,  furthermore,  that 
there  are  in  the  Confession  some  statements  which,  being  without 
warrant  of  Scripture,  and  not  essential  to  the  integrity  of  its  system 
of  doctrine,  ought  to  be  entirely  omitted. 

Thirdly.  We  declare  that  in  our  further  answer  to  the  second  ques- 
tion in  the  Assembly's  overture,  this  Presbytery  does  not  undertake  to 
revise  the  Confession.  For  the  accomplishment  of  that  work  we  look 
to  the  wisdom  of  the  whole  Church  as  represented  in  the  General 
Assembly. 

We,  therefore,  respectfully  submit  to  the  General  Assembly  the  fol- 
lowing suggestions  : 

I.  That  the  third  Chapter  of  the  Confession  be  amended  as  fol- 
lows : 

(_r)  That  the  words  ''for  their  sins"  be  inserted  after  the  word 
"foreordained,"  in  the  third  section. 

(2)  That  the  fourth  and  seventh  sections,  and  the  last  sentence  of 
the  sixth  section,  be  omitted. 

(3)  That  in  place  of  the  seventh  section,  omitted,  there  be  inserted 
a  clear  and  explicit  declaration  of  God's  infinite  love  for  all  men,  and 
of  the  sufficiency,  suitableness  and  free  offer  of  the  gospel  for  the 
salvation  of  all.  Without  insisting  upon  the  precise  form  of  this  new 
section,  we  submit  to  the  Assembly  the  third  Chapter  as  thus  amended  : 

Of  God's  Eternal  Decree.  * 

Section  i.  God  from  all  eternity  did,  by  the  most  wise  and  holy 
counsel  of  his  own  will,  freely  and  unchangeably  ordain  whatsoever 
comes  to  pass;  yet  so  as  thereby  neither  is  God  the  author  of  sin,  nor 
is  violence  offered  to  the  will  of  the  creatures,  nor  is  the  liberty  or 
contingency  of  second  causes  taken  away,  but  rather  established. 

Section  2.  Although  God  knows  whatsoever  may  or  can  come  to 
pass  upon  all  supposed  conditions,  yet  hath  he  not  decreed,  anything 
because  he  foresaw  it  as  future,  or  as  that  which  would  come  to  pass 
upon  such  conditions. 

Section  3.     By  the  decree  of  God,   for  the  manifestation  of  his 


*  The  word  "  Decrees"  in  the. recent  editions  of  our  Confession,  issued  by  our 
Board  of  Publication,  is  a  typographical  error,  and  ought  to  be  corrected. 


20  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

glory,  some  men  and  angels  are  predestinated  unto  everlasting  life, 
and  others  foreordained  for  their  sins  to  everlasting  death. 

Section  4.  Those  of  mankind  that  are  predestinated  unto  life, 
God,  before  the  foundation  of  the  world  was  laid,  according  to  his 
eternal  and  immutable  purpose  and  the  secret  counsel  and  good  pleas- 
ure of  his  will,  hath  chosen  in  Christ  unto  everlasting  glory,  out  of 
his  mere  free  grace  and  love,  without  any  foresight  of  faith  or  good 
works,  or  perseverance  in  either  of  them,  or  any  other  thing  in  the 
creature,  as  conditions  or  causes  moving  him  thereunto  ;  and  all  to 
the  praise  of  his  glorious  grace. 

Section  5.  As  God  hath  appointed  the  elect  unto  glory,  so  hath 
he,  by  the  eternal  and  most  free  purpose  of  his  will,  foreordained  all 
the  means  thereunto.  Wherefore  they  who  are  elected,  being  fallen 
in  Adam,  are  redeemed  by  Christ,  are  effectually  called  unto  faith  in 
Christ  by  his  Spirit  working  in  due  season,  are  justified,  adopted, 
sanctified  and  kept  by  his  power,  through  faith  unto  salvation. 

Section  6.  God's  eternal  counsel  hindereth  no  one  from  accepting 
Christ,  as  he  is  offered  to  all  men  for  salvation  in  the  Gospel.  Nor  ought 
it  be  so  construed  as  to  contradict  the  declarations  of  Scripture  that  ' '  God 
so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever 
believcth  in  him  might  not  perish  but  have  everlasting  life  ;"  that  Christ  is 
a  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  and  that  "  God  is  not  will- 
ing that  any  should  perish,  but  that  all  should  come  to  repentance." 

Section  7.  The  doctrine  of  this  high  mystery  of  predestination 
is  to  be  handled  with  special  prudence  and  care,  that  men,  attending 
the  will  of  God,  revealed  in  his  Word,  and  yielding  obedience  there- 
unto, may,  from  the  certainty  of  their  effectual  vocation,  be  assured 
of  their  eternal  election.  So  shall  this  doctrine  afford  matter  of  praise, 
reverence  and  admiration  of  God;  and  of  humility,  diligence  and 
abundant  consolation  to  all  that  sincerely  obey  the  gospel. 

II.  We  suggest  the  phrase  "  the  justice  of  His  Father"  in  Chapter 
VIII. ,  Section  5,  and  the  phrase  "  His  Father 's  justice"  in  Chapter 
XL,  Section  3,  be  changed  to  " the  Divine  justice"  The  reason  for 
this  amendment  is  that  the  words  quoted  sanction  the  error,  that  justice 
is  in  some  sense  the  peculiar  attribute  of  the  First  Person  of  the 
Trinity. 

III.  We  suggest  the  following  changes  in  the  tenth  Chapter : 

(1)  That  the  ambiguous  and  much-disputed  phrase,  "  Elect  infants, 
dying  in  infancy,"  be  omitted,  and  that  the  third  section  be  recon- 
structed so  as  to  read  as  follows:  "All  persons,  including  infants, 
who  from  birth  to  death  are  incapable  of  being  outwardly  called  by 
the  ministry  of  the  Word,  are  elect,  and  are  regenerated  and  saved 


BROOKLYN.  2L 

by  Christ  through  the  Spirit,  who  worketh  when,  where  and  how  he 
pleaseth." 

(2)  That  the  following  words  in  the  fourth  section  be  omitted: 
"Much  less  can  men,  not  professing  the  Christian  religion,  be  saved 
in  any  other  way  whatsoever,  be  they  never  so  diligent  to  frame  their 
lives  according  to  the  light  of  nature,  and  the  law  of  that  religion 
which  they  do  profess ;  and  to  assert  and  maintain  that  they  may  is 
very  pernicious  and  to  be  detested. " 

IV.  We  suggest  that  the  Confession  contains  statements  in  regard 
to  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  which  are  out  of  place  in  a  symbol  of 
faith,  which  can  not  be  sustained  by  due  warrant  of  Scripture,  and 
ought,  therefore,  to  be  omitted. 

(1)  The  declaration  in  Chapter  XXII.,  Section  7,  that  "  Popish 
and  monastical  vows  of  perpetual  single  life,  professed  poverty  and 
regular  obedience,  are  superstitious  and  sinful  snares  in  which  no  one 
may  entangle  himself." 

(2)  The  entire  second  sentence  of  the  third  section  of  Chapter  XXIV., 
which  reads  :  "  And,  therefore,  such  as  profess  the  true  reformed 
religion  should  not  marry  with  infidels,  Papists  or  other  idolaters ; 
neither  should  such  as  are  godly  be  unequally  yoked  by  marrying 
with  such  as  are  notoriously  wicked  in  their  life,  or  maintain  damn- 
able heresies." 

(3)  The  assertion  in  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  second  sentence : 
"Nor  can  the  Pope  of  Rome  in  any  sense  be  head  thereof;  but  is 
that  Antichrist,  that  man  of  sin,  and  son  of  perdition,  that  exalteth 
himself,  in  the  Church,  against  Christ,  and  all  that  is  called  God." 

Without  attempting  to  present  in  full  the  arguments  in  favor  of  a 
revision  of  the  Confession,  or  to  defend  in  detail  the  amendments  we 
have  suggested,  the  Presbytery  of  Brooklyn  respectfully  submit  to  the 
General  Assembly  the  following  reasons  for  the  answers  we  have  given 
to  the  Assembly's  overture  : 

1.  Such  amendments  as  we  have  suggested  would  not  in  any  wise 
impair  the  historic  or  doctrinal  integrity  of  the  Confession.  The 
Shorter  C.itechism,  as  well  as  the  Confession,  contains  the  system  of 
doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  is  in  all  essential  and 
necessary  articles  a  good  form  of  sound  words,  and  yet  the  Shorter 
Catechism  doe>  not  contain  one  of  the  statements  to  which  we  object 
in  the  Confession  of  Faith. 

2.  The  terms  of  subscription  by  which  our  ministers  and  elders 
receive  and  adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith,  "as  containing  the  system 
of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,"  do  not  furnish  the  relief 
which  we  seek  for  in  revision.      Because  the  Confession  is  not  merelv 


22  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

a  test  of  orthodoxy  for  the  officers  of  the  Church  ;  it  is  the  symbol 
and  standard  of  the  whole  Church,  a  declaration  to  the  world  of  what 
Presbyterians  believe,  and  a  text-book  out  of  which  all  our  people  are 
to  be  instructed.  Such  a  revision  as  we  desire  would  bring  this 
Standard,  more  into  conformity  with  what  the  whole  Church  believes 
to  be  the  teaching  of  the  Holy  Scripture,  make  its  meaning  plainer, 
do  away  with  the  necessity  for  explaining  and  defending  its  disputed 
statements,  and  make  it  more  suitable  as  a  summary  of  doctrine  for 
the  instruction  of  our  baptized  children  in  the  principles  of  our  holy 
religion,  according  to  the  injunction  of  the  Directory  for  Worship, 
Chapter  VII..  Section  4. 

3.  Such  a  revision  as  we  desire  will  tend  to  prevent  the  evils  of 
loose  subscription  to  our  Standards.  As  a  dead  law  upon  the  statute- 
book  weakens  the  force  and  impairs  the  authority  of  all  law,  so  a 
statement  in  our  Confession  which  a  large  number  of  our  ministers, 
elders  and  people  openly  reject  (as  is  notoriously  the  case  with  most 
of  the  statements  to  which  we  have  suggested  amendments),  weakens 
the  authority  and  good  repute  of  the  whole  Confession,  and  impairs 
its  force  as  a  bond  of  union  between  those  who  adopt  it. 

4.  In  our  judgment  there  never  has  been  in  the  history  of  the 
past,  and  is  not  likely  to  be  in  the  future,  a  time  when  such  a  revision 
could  be  more  safely  made.  We  doubt  whether  our  Church  has  ever 
been  more  loyal  to  the  Standards  than  she  is  to-day.  We  know  of  no 
ministers  or  elders  who  can  be  justly  suspected  of  insincerity  in  adopt- 
ing the  Confession  as  containing  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures.  We  recognize  in  the  desire  for  revision  a  fruit  and 
evidence  of  this  sincerity.  It  is  with  us  pre-eminently  a  time  of  peace. 
Missionary  zeal  has  largely  taken  the  place  of  the  bitter  theological 
controversies  of  the  former  days.  The  fairness,  toleration  and  broth- 
erly love  which  have  so  signally  characterized  the  discussion  of 
the  Assembly's  overture,  is  a  happy  omen  that  revision  can  be  accom- 
plished in  the  same  blessed  temper,  under  the  guidance  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  who  abides  with  us,  even  as  he  dwelt  m  the  Westminster 
Assembly.  For  this  consummation  we  offer  up  our  desires  to  God  in 
the  name   of  Christ,  with  thankful  acknowledgment   of  his  mercies. 

A  true  copy  :  Newell  Woolsey  Wells,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  RUFFALO. 

Believing  that  the  Confession  of  Faith  contains  the  "system  of  doc- 
trine taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,"  the  Presbytery  is  opposed  to  any 
revision  of  the  Confession  which  would  impair  the  integrity  of  the 


BUFFALO    TO    CAIRO.  23 

Reformed  or  Calvinistic  system.  But  believing  also  that  the  Presby- 
terian Church  is  now  in  conditions  very  different  from  those  surround- 
ing the  churches  represented  in  the  Westminster  Assembly,  and  that, 
in  the  providence  of  God,  great  advancement  has  since  been  made  in 
the  interpretation  of  the  Bible,  the  Presbytery  desires  such  revision  as 
will  bring  certain  statements  of  the  Confession  into  more  complete 
harmony  with  the  present  faith  of  the  Church,  and  will  most  effi- 
ciently help  to  maintain  and  proclaim  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  the 
Christ. 

In  accordance  with  this,  the  Presbytery  recommends : 
I.  That  there  be  added  to  the  third  Chapter  a  fuller  statement  of 
God's  love  for  all  mankind,  of  the  offer  of  salvation  through  Jesus 
Christ  unto  all,  of  the  responsibility  of  all  to  receive  and  obey  the 
truth  (in  accordance  with  John  iii.  16-19;  1  Tim.  ii.  1-4;  2  Peter 
iii.  9;  etc.),  and  that  there  be  also  added  to  this  chapter,  or  put 
in  some  other  appropriate  place,  a  recognition  of  the  responsibility 
laid  upon  the  Church  by  the  command  of  our  Lord  in  Matt,  xxviii. 
19-20. 

II.'  That  in  the  tenth  Chapter,  Section  3  be  revised  so  as  not  to 
appear  to  discriminate  concerning  "infants  dying  in  infancy." 

III.  That  Section  4  of  the  tenth  Chapter  be  revised  by  striking  out 
the  words  "  not  professing  the  Christian  religion,  be  saved  in  any  way 
whatsoever,  be  they  never  so  diligent  to,"  and  substituting  therefor 
the  words  "  not  called  by  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  be  saved  except 
by  Christ  through  the  Spirit,  although  they." 

IV.  That  the  last  sentence  of  Section  6,  Chapter  XXV. .  be  omitted. 

Attest :  William  Waith,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF    CAIRO. 

First,  That  the  full  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrine,  as  contained 
in  the  Confession  of  Faith,  and  as  taught  by  all  the  Standards  of  the 
Church,  shall  be  kept  inviolate. 

Second,  That  those  forms  of  statement,  especially  in  the  third  and 
tenth  Chapters,  which  seem  to  some  to  convey  erroneous  and  unscrip- 
tural  implications,  and  which  are  and  have  been  occasions  of  stum- 
bling, be  modified  and  changed,  so  as  to  conform  to  the  doctrines  as 
taught  by  the  Church. 

Third,  That  God's  love  of  the  world,  and  his  commission  to  preach 
the  gospel  to  every  creature,  be  given  fuller  and  more  definite  expres- 
sion, believing  as  we  do,  that  it  is  not  the  will  of  God  that  any  should 
perish,  but  that  all  might  come  unto  him  and  live. 


24  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

Fourth,  We  favor  also  the  formulation,  adoption,  and  publication 
for  popular  use,  of  a  briefer  creed,  to  consist  of  from  two  to  four 
thousand  words,  based  on  the  Confession  of  Faith,  this  briefer  creed 
to  be  recommended  by  the  Church  to  the  people,  as  an  adequate 
presentation  in  popular  form  of  the  system  of  doctrine  more  elabor- 
ately taught  in  the  Confession  of  Faith. 

Attest:  Ben j.  C.  Swan,  Stated  Clerk. 

THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  CAYUGA. 

"To  the  extent  of  revising  it  by  so  combining,  abridging,  and  sup- 
plementing the  Confession  of  Faith  and  the  Larger  and  Shorter  Cate- 
chisms, so  as  to  secure  a  briefer  and  simpler  statement  of  the  system 
of  doctrine  contained  therein  and  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.'' 

The  Presbytery  herewith  submits  to  the  General  Assembly  the 
accompanying  paper,  "Suggestions  for  Revision,"  not  as  a  completed 
draft  for  final  action,  but  as  an  illustration  of  the  character  and  mode 
of  revision  which  seem  to  us  desirable. 

Suggestions  for  a  Revised  Confession  of  Faith.  _    Prepared  by  Ransom  B. 

Welch,   D.D.,  atid  Edward  P.   Sprague,  D.D.,  and 

approved  by  the  Presbytery  of  Cayuga. 

I. 

OF  1HE  HOLY  SCRIPTURE. 

i.  God,  in  his  works  of  creation  and  providence,  and  especially 
in  the  spirit  of  man,  does  so  far  manifest  his  wisdom,  power,  good- 
ness and  love,  as  to  leave  men  without  excuse ;  yet  it  pleased  the 
Lord  further  to  reveal  himself,  and  to  declare  his  will  unto  men,  and 
to  commit  the  same  to  writing  by  holy  men,  inspired  by  the  Holy 
Ghost;  so  that  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  the  New  Testaments  do 
contain  the  special  revelation  of  the  mind  and  will  of  God  for  our 
salvation. 

2.  The  Scriptures  manifest  themselves  to  be  the  word  of  God  by 
their  majesty  and  purity,  by  the  consent  of  all  the  parts,  and  the  scope 
of  the  whole,  by  their  power  to  convict  and  convert  sinners,  and  to 
build  up  believers  unto  salvation ;  but  the  full  persuasion  that  they 
are  the  very  word  of  God,  is  from  the  inward  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  bearing  witness  by  and  with  the  word,  in  our  hearts. 

3.  These  Scriptures  are  the  only  rule  of  faith  and  life,  teaching 
what  man  is  to  believe  concerning  God,  and  what  duty  God  requires 
of  man;  they  are  devoutly  to  be  studied  by  all,  comparing  Scripture 
with  Scripture;  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  speaking  in  them,  is  the  Supreme 
Judge,  by  whom  all  controversies  of  religion  are  to  be  determined. 


CAYUGA.  25 

II. 

OF  GOD  AND    THE    HOLY  TRINITY. 

i.  There  is  but  one  only  living  and  true  God,  who  is  a  spirit,  infi- 
nite, eternal  and  unchangeable,  in  his  being,  wisdom,  power,  holiness, 
justice,  goodness  and  truth,  most  loving,  gracious,  merciful  and  long- 
suffering,  forgiving  iniquity,  transgression  and  sin,  and  who  will  by 
no  means  clear  the  guilty. 

2.  In  the  unity  of  the  Godhead  there  are  three  persons,  the 
Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  these  three  are  one  God, 
the  same  in  substance,  equal  in  power  and  glory. 

III. 

of  god's  eternal  decree. 

i.  God,  from  all  eternity,  did  by  the  most  wise  and  holy  counsel 
of  his  own  will,  freely  and  unchangeably  ordain  whatsoever  comes  to 
pass;  yet  so  as  thereby  neither  is  God  the  author  of  sin,  nor  is  vio- 
lence offered  to  the  will  of  his  creatures,  nor  is  the  liberty  or  contin- 
gency of  second  causes  taken  away,  but  rather  established. 

2.  Out  of  his  own  free  grace  and  love,  God  has  in  Christ  Jesus 
elected  some  to  eternal  life,  through  sanctification  of  the  Spirit  and 
belief  of  the  truth.  These  being  effectually  called  in  due  season,  are 
justified,  adopted,  sanctified  and  kept  by  the  power  of  God  through 
faith  unto  salvation. 

3.  God's  eternal  decree  hinders  no  one  from  accepting  Christ,  as 
he  is  freely  offered  to  all  men  in  the  Gospel :  nor  is  it  to  be  so  construed 
as  to  contradict  the  declarations  of  Scripture,  that  Christ  is  the  propi- 
tiation for  the  whole  world,  and  that  God  is  not  willing  that  any  should 
perish,  but  would  have  all  come  to  repentance  and  live. 

IV. 

OF  CREATION  AND  PROVIDENCE. 

i.  It  pleased  Almighty  God,  for  the  manifestation  of  the  glory  ot 
his  eternal  power,  wisdom  and  goodness,  in  the  beginning  to  create 
the  heaven  and  the  earth,  and  through  successive  periods  to  fashion 
this  world  and  all  things  therein,  and  to  make  man  after  his  own 
image,  in  knowledge,  righteousnes  and  holiness,  that  he  might  glorify 
God  and  enjoy  him  forever. 

2.  God,  the  Creator  of  all  things,  upholds,  directs,  disposes  and 
governs  all  his  creatures,  by  his  most  wise  and  holy  providence  :  yet 
he  so  orders  all  things  to  fall  out  according  to  the  nature  of  his  crea- 
tures, and  to  the  operation  of  second  causes,  that  God  is  neither  the 


26  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

author  nor  approver  of  sin,  nor  is  the  freedom  or  responsibility  of 
man  taken  away  ;  but  all  is  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his  wisdom, 
power,  justice,  goodness  and  mercy. 

V. 

OF  THE  FALL  OF  MAN  :     OF  SIN,    AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 

i.  Our  first  parents,  in  the  exercise  of  their  own  free  will,  through 
the  temptation  of  Satan,  transgressed  the  commandment  of  God,  fell 
from  the  estate  wherein  they  were  created,  became  corrupt  in  their 
nature,  lost  communion  with  God,  and  were  made  subject  to  his 
righteous  condemnation. 

2.  All  mankind,  descended  from  them  by  ordinary  generation, 
inherit  this  corrupted  nature, — whence  proceed  all  actual  transgres- 
sions,— are  alienated  from  God  by  wicked  works,  indisposed  and  dis- 
abled to  spiritual  good,  and  are  thereby  made  liable  to  all  the  miseries 
of  this  life,  Jand  of  the  life  which  is  to  come  :  and  out  of  this  condi- 
tion no  man  can  deliver  himself. 

3.  Sin  is  any  want  of  conformity  unto,  or  transgression  of  the  law 
of  God.  While  some  sins  are  more  heinous  in  the  sight  of  God  than 
others,  yet  as  there  is  no  sin  so  small  but  that  it  deserves  condemna- 
tion, so  there  is  no  sin  so  great  that  it  can  bring  eternal  damnation 
upon  those  who  truly  repent. 

VI. 

OF  GOD'S  COVENANT  WITH  MAN. 

i.  God,  when  he  had  created  man,  entered  into  a  covenant  of  life 
with  him  and  his  posterity,  on  condition  of  perfect  and  personal  obe- 
dience; which  covenant  man  broke  by  sinning  against  God. 

2.  The  Lord  God,  who  is  rich  in  mercy,  out  of  the  fullness  of  his 
love  was  pleased  to  enter  into  a  covenant  of  grace  with  man  ;  wherein, 
foresignifying  Christ  by  all  the  promises,  prophecies,  sacrifices  and 
other  types  in  the  Old  Testament,  he  did  in  the  fullness  of  time  fulfill 
his  gracious  purpose  to  deliver  men  out  of  the  estate  of  sin  and  misery, 
by  sending  his  Son  to  be  the  Savior  of  the  world,  by  whom  full  remis- 
sion of  sin  and  eternal  salvation  are  secured  to  all  them  that  truly 
believe  on  him. 

VII. 

OF  CHRIST,   THE  MEDIATOR. 

i.  The  Lord  Jesus,  the  only  begotten  Son  of  the  Father,  was 
chosen  in  the  eternal  purpose  of  God  to  be  the  mediator  between  God 
and  man,  the  prophet,  priest  and  king,  the  head  and  Savior  of  his 
church,  the  heir  of  all  things  and  the  judge  of  the  world. 


CAYUGA.  27 

2.  The  Son  of  God,  the  eternal  Word,  did  in  the  fullness  of  time 
become  man  by  taking  to  himself  a  true  body  and  a  reasonable  soul, 
being  conceived  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  born  of  the 
Virgin  Mary,  yet  without  sin;  and  so  was,  and  continues  to  be, 
divine  and  human,  two  whole,  perfect  and  distinct  natures,  insepa- 
rably joined  together  in  one  person. 

3.  This  office  of  mediator  between  God  and  man,  the  Lord  Jesus 
did  most  willingly  undertake ;  he  was  made  under  the  law  and  did 
perfectly  fulfill  it;  for  our  offences  he  endured  most  grievous  suffer- 
ings in  soul  and  body,  was  crucified,  dead  and  buried,  and  remained 
under  the  power  of  death,  yet  saw  no  corruption.  On  the  third  day 
he  arose  from  the  dead,  with  the  self-same  body  in  which  he  suffered; 
he  ascended  into  heaven,  and  there  sits  at  the  right  hand  of  the 
Father,  making  intercession  for  us  :  and  he  shall  return  to  judge  the 
world  at  the  last  day. 

4.  The  Lord  Jesus  by  his  word  and  Spirit  reveals  unto"  us  the  will 
of  God  for  our  salvation.  By  his  perfect  obedience,  and  sacrifice  of 
himself,  he  fully  satisfied  the  divine  justice,  and  purchased  for  us  the 
forgiveness  of  sins,  reconciliation  unto  God,  and  an  everlasting  inheri- 
tance in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  As  the  head  of  the  church  he  rules 
and  defends  us,  restraining  and  conquering  all  his  and  our  enemies. 

VIII. 

OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT. 

i.  The  Holy  Spirit,  the  third  person  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  who  by 
the  Father  and  the  Son  is  sent  into  the  world,  who  spake  of  old  to  the 
fathers,  and  by  whose  inspiration  the  Holy  Scriptures  were  given, 
makes  us  partakers  of  the  redemption  purchased  by  Christ  by  working 
faith  in  us,  and  thereby  uniting  us  to  Christ  in  our  effectual  calling. 

2.  He  abides  ever  with  his  church,  and  in  the  hearts  of  all 
believers,  the  Comforter  and  Spirit  of  truth,  taking  of  the  things  of 
Christ  and  revealing  them  to  men,  convicting  of  sin,  and  guiding  into 
the  knowledge  of  all  saving  truth;  and  without  his  gracious  influ- 
ences there  is  no  true  faith  in  us,  nor  spiritual  good  accompanying 

salvation. 

IX. 

OF  THE  PROCLAMATION  OF  THE  GOSPEL. 

Almighty  God,  who  has  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  any,  but  would 
have  all  men  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  and  to  salvation, 
has  by  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Spirit  given  unto  his  church  a  commis- 
sion to  preach  the  gospel  unto  all  nations ;  and  in  this  Gospel  he  offers 
to  all  men  the  remission  of  their  sins,  and  the  gift  of  eternal  life,  upon 
their  repentance  toward  God  and  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 


28  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

X. 

OF  FREE  WILL  AND  OF  EFFECTUAL  CALLING. 

i.  God  has  endued  the  will  of  man  with  such  natural  liberty,  that 
it  is  neither  forced,  nor  by  any  absolute  necessity  determined  to  good 
or  evil.  Nevertheless,  such  is  the  state  of  sin  into  which  the  Fall 
brought  mankind,  that  no  man  is  able  by  his  own  strength  to  convert 
himself,  or  perfectly  to  keep  all  the  commandments  of  God. 

2.  God  by  his  word  and  Spirit  effectually  calls  men  out  of  that 
state  of  sin  and  death,  in  which  they  are  by  nature,  to  grace  and  sal- 
vation by  Jesus  Christ,  by  convincing  them  of  their  sin  and  misery, 
enlightening  their  minds  in  the  knowledge  of  Christ,  renewing  their 
wills,  and  thus  persuading  and  enabling  them  to  accept  Jesus  Christ, 
and  the  grace  freely  offered  through  him  in  the  gospel ;  yet  so  as  they 
come  most  freely,  being  made  willing  by  his  grace  :  and  this  effectual 
call  is  of  God's  free  grace  alone. 

3.  Such  elect  persons,  as  are  incapable  of  being  outwardly  called 
by  the  ministry  of  the  word,  are  regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ 
through  the  Spirit,  who  works  when,  and  where,  and  how  he  pleases. 
Neither  is  it  possible  for  any  to  be  saved  in  any  other  way  than  by 
Christ,  through  the  Spirit. 

XI. 

OF    JUSTIFICATION. 

Those  whom  God  effectually  calls  to  repentance  and  faith  he  also 
justifies  by  freely  pardoning  all  their  sins,  and  accepting  their  persons 
as  righteous  in  his  sight,  not  for  anything  meritorious  done  by  them, 
but  only  for  the  merit  of  Christ  in  his  perfect  obedience  and  atoning 
sacrifice  for  their  salvation. 

XII. 

OF   ADOPTION. 

All  those  that  are  justified,  God  makes  partakers  of  the  grace  of 
adoption,  whereby  they  are  received  into  the  number  of  his  children, 
admitted  to  all  the  liberties  and  privileges  of  the  sons  of  God,  sealed 
to  the  day  of  redemption,  and  made  heirs  of  all  the  promises  and  of 
everlasting  salvation. 

XIII. 

OF  SANCTIFICATION. 

i.  Those,  who  are  effectually  called,  are  sanctified  by  the  Spirit 
and  word  of  God  dwelling  in  them,  whereby  they  are  renewed  in  the 
whole  man  after  the  image  of  God,  and  are  increased  and  strengthened 
in  all  Christian  graces,  so  that  they  more  and  more  die  unto  sin,  and 
live  unto  righteousness. 


CAYUGA.  29 

2.  This  sanctification  is  not  perfect  in  this  life,  yet  through  the 
continual  supply  of  strength  by  the  sanctifying  Spirit  the  saints  do 
grow  in  grace,  toward  complete  conformity  with  the  will  of  God. 

XIV. 

OF  SAVING  FAITH. 

i.  The  grace  of  faith,  whereby  sinners  believe  to  the  saving  of 
their  souls,  is  the  work  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ  in  their  hearts;  and  is 
ordinarily  wrought  by  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  by  which  also,  and 
by  the  sacraments  and  prayer,  it  is  increased  and  strengthened. 

2.  By  this  saving  faith  the  sinner,  convinced  of  his  lost  condition 
through  sin,  not  only  assents  to  the  truth  of  the  gospel,  but  accepts, 
receives  and  rests  on  Christ  alone  for  pardon  of  his  sins,  for  justifica- 
tion, sanctification,   acceptance   with   God  and  the  life   everlasting. 

XV. 

OF    REPENTANCE  UNTO  LIFE. 

i.  Repentance  unto  life  is  a  saving  grace,  wrought  in  the  heart  by 
the  Spirit  and  Word  of  God,  whereby  the  sinner,  out  of  the  due  sense 
of  his  sin,  and  upon  apprehension  of  the  mercy  of  God  in  Christ  to 
such  as  are  penitent,  grieves  for  and  hates  his  sins,  and  turns  from 
them  to  God,  with  full  purpose  and  endeavor  to  walk  with  God  in  all 
the  ways  of  new  obedience. 

2.  Although  repentance  and  faith,  the  doctrine  of  which  is  always 
to  be  preached,  are  not  meritorious  as  any  satisfaction  for  sin,  or 
ground  for  pardon:  yet,  they  are  indispensable  to  all,  so  that  without 
them  none  may  expect  nardon  and  salvation. 

XVI. 

OF  GOOD  WORKS. 

i.  Good  works,  such  as  God  has  commanded  in  his  Holy  Word, 
which  are  the  fruits  and  evidences  of  a  true  and  living  faith,  are  to  be 
done  with  all  diligence  by  all  believers,  not  as  a  ground  of  acceptance 
with  God  ;  but  that  they  may  manifest  their  thankfulness,  edify  their 
brethren,  adorn  the  profession  of  the  Gospel  and  glorify  God  :  where- 
unto  they  are  created  in  Christ  Jesus,  that  they  may  have  their  fruit 
unto  righteousness,  and  the  end  eternal  life. 

2.  Works  done  by  unregenerate  men,  although  they  may  be  things 
commanded  by  God,  and  of  good  use  to  themselves  and  others,  yet 
because  they  proceed  not  from  a  heart  purified  by  faith,  nor  are  done 
in  a  right  manner,  nor  to  the  right  end,  do  not  meet  the  requirements 
of  the  divine  law  ;  and  hence  they  can  not  be  pleaded  as  a  ground  of 
acceptance  with  God. 


30  ANSWERS    OF     PRESBYTERIES. 

XVII. 
OF  THE  PERSEVERANCE  OF  THE  SAINTS. 

i.  They,  whom  God  graciously  accepts  in  his  Son,  do  neither 
totally  nor  finally  fall  away  from  the  estate  of  grace,  but  do,  from  the 
nature  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  by  the  efficacy  of  the  merit  and  inter- 
cession of  Jesus  Christ,  by  the  abiding  of  the  Spirit  of  God  within 
them,  finally  persevere  therein,  and  are  eternally  saved. 

2.    Nevertheless   they  may,   through  the  temptations  of  Satan,  the 

corruption  remaining  in  themselves,  and  their    own   unwatchfulness 

and  neglect  of  the  means  of  grace,  fall  into  grievous  sins ;  yet  by  the 

mercy  of  God  they  are  not  utterly  cast  off,  but  are  chastened,  and 

brought  back  through   repentance  to  his   favor,   and  kept  unto  life 

everlasting. 

XVIII. 

OF    THE  ASSURANCE  OF  GRACE  AND    SALVATION. 

i.  Such  as  truly  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  love  him  in  sincerity, 
and  endeavor  to  walk  in  all  good  conscience  before  him,  may,  by 
faith  in  the  divine  promises,  by  the  testimony  of  the  Spirit  of  adop- 
tion witnessing  with  their  spirits  that  they  are  the  children  of  God,  be 
assured  that  they  are  in  a  state  of  grace,  and  shall  persevere  therein 
unto  salvation. 

2.  This  assurance  of  grace  and  salvation  does  not  so  belong  to 
the  essence  of  faith,  but  that  true  believers  may  wait  long  before  they 
obtain  it;  they  may  have  it  weakened  or  intermitted  through  negli- 
gence, temptation  and  sin,  yet  they  are  never  without  such  support  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  as  keeps  them  from  sinking  into  utter  despair. 

XIX. 

OF  THE  MORAL  LAW. 

The  moral  law,  which  is  summarily  comprehended  in  the  ten  com- 
mandments, is  the  declaration  of  the  will  of  God  to  mankind,  bind- 
ing every  one  to  personal  obedience  thereto.  It  convinces  sinners  of 
the  corruption  of  their  hearts  and  lives,  and  thereby  gives  them  a 
clearer  sight  of  their  need  of  Christ;  and  also  it  restrains  the  regen- 
erate, increases  their  estimate  of  Christ's  righteousness  and  sacrifice 
and  their  thankfulness  therefor,  moving  them  to  express  the  same  by 
greater  care  to  conform  to  the  rule  of  perfect  obedience.  This  moral 
law  Christ  in  no  way  dissolves,  but  strengthens  and  illustrates  in  the 

gospel. 

XX. 

OF  CHRISTIAN  LIBERTY,   AND  LIBERTY  OF  CONSCIENCE. 

i.  The  liberty,  which  Christ  has  purchased  for  believers  under 
the  gospel,  consists  in  their  freedom  from  the  guilt  of  sin,  the  condem- 


CAYUGA.  31 

nation  of  God  and  the  curse  of  the  law  ;  in  their  being  delivered  from 
the  bondage  of  the  world  and  of  Satan ;  in  their  free  access  to  the 
throne  of  grace ;  in  their  willing  obedience,  and  in  the  full  communi- 
cation of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

2.  God  alone  is  Lord  of  the  conscience,  and  has  left  it  free  from 
the  doctrines  and  commandments  of  men,  which  are  in  anything 
contrary  to  his  word,  or  beyond  it,  in  matters  of  faith  and  worship. 
Liberty  of  conscience  is  not  to  be  abused  by  the  requiring  of  implicit 
belief  and  blind  obedience,  nor  to  be  made  a  cloak  for  sin ;  but  is  to 
the  end  that  men  may  serve  the  Lord  without  fear,  in  holiness  and 
righteousness  before  him,  all  the  days  of  their  life. 

XXL 

OF  RELIGIOUS  WORSHIP,    AND  THE  SABBATH  DAY. 

i.  Religious  worship  is  to  be  given  only  to  God,  the  Father,  the 
Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  Prayer  with  thanksgiving,  made  in  the 
name  of  the  Son  by  the  help  of  the  Spirit,  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures 
with  godly  fear,  the  sound  preaching  and  reverent  hearing  and  believ- 
ing of  the  word,  the  singing  of  psalms  and  hymns  with  grace  in  the 
heart,  the  due  administration  and  worthy  receiving  of  the  sacraments, 
and  the  contribution  of  offerings  as  the  Lord  has  prospered  each,  are 
all  parts  of  the  ordinary  worship  of  God. 

2.  God  has  by  positive,  moral  and  perpetual  commandment  par- 
ticularly appointed  .one  day  in  seven,  to  be  kept  holy  unto  himself; 
which  day  from  the  resurrection  of  Christ  has  been  the  first  day  of 
the  week,  or  Lord's  day,  and  is  to  be  continued  to  the  end  of  the 
world  as  the  Christian  Sabbath. 

3.  This  Sabbath  is  to  be  sanctified  to  the  Lord  by  a  holy  resting 
from  worldly  employments  and  recreations,  and  by  devoting  the  time 
to  the  service  and  worship  of  God,  except  as  required  for  works  of 
necessity  and  mercy. 

XXII. 

OF  LAWFUL  OATHS  AND  VOWS. 

i.  A  lawful  oath  is  one  wherein,  upon  just  occasion,  the  person 
solemnly  calls  God  to  witness  what  he  asserts,  or  promises,  and  to 
judge  him  according  to  the  truth  or  falsehood  thereof.  Such  an  oath 
ought  to  be  taken  only  in  all  holy  fear  and  reverence,  in  matters  of 
weight  and  moment,  and  as  duly  imposed  by  lawful  authority. 

2.  In  like  manner  a  vow  ought  to  be  made  only  with  religious 
care,  out  of  faith  and  conscience  of  duty,  or  in  the  way  of  thankful- 
ness :  and  it  should  be  performed  with  like  fidelity. 


32  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

XXIII. 

OF  THE  CIVIL  MAGISTRATE. 

i.  God,  the  Supreme  Lord  and  King  of  all  the  world,  has  ordained 
civil  magistrates  to  be  under  him  over  the  people,  for  the  defence  and 
encouragement  of  them  that  do  good,  and  for  the  terror  of  evil  doers. 
Wherefore  the  people  ought  to  pray  for  magistrates,  honor  their  per- 
sons, pay  them  proper  tribute,  obey  their  lawful  commands,  and  be 
subject  to  their  authority,  for  conscience'  sake. 

2.  As  Jesus'Christ  has  appointed  a  regular  government  and  dis- 
cipline in  his  church,  civil  magistrates  may  not  assume  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  word  and  sacraments,  or  the  power  of  the  keys  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  or  interfere  with  any  in  the  exercises  of  religion 
according  to  their  own  profession  and  belief.  But  the  civil  magistrate 
may  lawfully  hinder  the  practicing  of  crime,  immorality  or  disorder 
under  pretense  of  religion. 

XXIV. 

ON    MARRIAGE    AND    DIVORCE. 

i.  Marriage  between  one  man  and  one  woman  is  lawful  for  all 
persons,  who  are  able  with  judgment  to  give  their  consent,  and  who 
are  not  within  the  degrees  of  consanguinity  forbidden  in  the  Word; 
yet  such  as  profess  the  true  religion  ought  not  to  marry  with  infidels, 
idolaters,  or  such  as  are  notoriously  wicked  in  their  life. 

2.  Divorce,  because  of  adultery,  is  lawful;  yet  nothing  but  adul- 
tery, or  such  willful  desertion  as  implies  it,  is  cause  sufficient  for  dis- 
solving the  bond  of  marriage. 

XXV. 

OF   THE    CHURCH. 

i.  The  catholic  or  universal  church,  which  is  invisible,  consists  of 
the  whole  number  of  the  redeemed,  who  have  been,  are,  or  shall  be 
received  into  heaven.  The  visible  church,  which  is  also  catholic  or 
universal,  consists  of  all  those  throughout  the  world,  who  profess  the 
true  religion,  together  with  their  children. 

2.  There  is  no  other  head  of  the  church  but  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
who  has  given  the  ministry,  oracles  and  ordinances  of  God  for  the 
gathering  and  perfecting  of  the  saints;  and  while  the  purest  churches 
are  subject  to  error,  and  may  contain  unworthy  members,  yet  believ- 
ers ought  not  lightly  to  separate  themselves  therefrom,  but  rather  live 
in  communion  with  all  who  call  on  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 


CAYUGA.  33 

XXVI. 

OF    THE    COMMUNION    OF    SAINTS. 

All  saints  are  united  to  Jesus  Christ,  their  head,  by  his  Spirit, 
through  faith,  and  have  fellowship  with  Christ  in  his  graces,  suffer- 
ings, death,  resurrection  and  glory ;  and  they  are  united  one  to 
another,  have  communion  in  each  other's  gifts  and  graces,  and  are 
to  perform  such  public  and  private  duties  and  spiritual  services  as 
tend  to  their  mutual  assistance  and  edification. 

XXVII. 

OF    THE    SACRAMENTS. 

The  sacraments  of  the' New  Testament,  which  are  Baptism  and  the 
Lord's  Supper,  are  holy  ordinances  instituted  by  Christ  in  his 
church  ;  wherein,  by  sensible  signs,  Christ  and  the  benefits  of  the 
covenant  of  grace  are  represented,  sealed  and  applied  to  believers, 
not  by  any  outward  power  in  the  signs  used,  but  by  the  inward  and 
spiritual  grace  wrought  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  those  that  by  faith 
receive  them. 

XXVIII. 

OF    BAPTISM. 

Baptism  is  a  sacrament  ordained  by  Christ,  wherein  the  washing 
with  water  in  the  name  of  the  Father  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  is  a  sign  and  seal  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  of  ingrafting  into 
Christ,  of  regeneration  and  of  remission  of  sins,  of  engagement  to  be 
the  Lord's,  and  of  membership  in  the  visible  church.  Baptism  is 
to  be  administered  to  those  that  do  actually  profess  faith  in,  and 
obedience  to  Christ,  and  to  the  children  of  one  or  both  believing 
parents. 

XXIX. 

OF    THE    LORD'S   SUPPER. 

i.  The  Lord's  Supper  is  a  holy  sacrament  instituted  by  Christ, 
to  be  observed  in  his  church  until  the  end  of  the  world,  wherein,  by 
the  giving  and  receiving  of  bread  and  wine,  according  to  his  appoint- 
ment, they  that  worthily  communicate  do,  not  in  a  corporal  or  carnal 
manner,  but  by  faith,  feed  upon  his  body  and  blood,  to  their  spiritual 
comfort,  nourishment  and  growth  in  grace,  and  to  the  confirming  of 
their  union  and  communion  with  him. 

2.  This  sacrament  is  not  any  real  offering  or  sacrifice  of  Christ  to 
the  Father,  but  is  a  reverent  and  grateful  commemoration  of  Christ's 
offering  up  himself,  once  for  all,  upon  the  cross;  and  they  that  would 
worthily  partake  thereof,  ought  to  examine  themselves  of  their  knowl- 
edge to  discern  the  Lord's  body,  of  their  faith  to  feed  upon  him,  and 


34  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

of  their  love  and  new  obedience,  renewing  their  covenant  with  God 
and  their  love  to  all  the  brethren. 

XXX. 

OF    CHURCH    CENSURES. 

i.  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  king  and  head  of  his  church,  has 
therein  appointed  a  government  in  the  hand  of  the  church -officers,  to 
whom  are  committed  the  keys  of  the  visible  kingdom  of  God  on 
earth,  to  open  or  shut  that  kingdom  by  the  word  and  the  ministry  of 
the  gospel,  or  by  the  censures  of  the  church. 

2.  Church  censures,  which  are  necessary  for  reclaiming  offenders 
and  deterring  others  from  offending,  for  purifying  the  church,  and  for 
vindicating  the  honor  of  Christ  and  the  profession  of  the  Gospel,  are 
to  proceed  by  admonition,  by  suspension  from  the  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  for  a  season,  or  by  excommunication  from  the  church, 
according  to  the  nature  of  the  offence,  and  the  seeming  demerit  of 
the  offender. 

XXXI. 

OF    SYNODS    AND    COUNCILS. 

For  the  better  government  and  edification  of  the  church,  there 
ought  to  be  such  assemblies  as  are  commonly  called  Synods  or  Coun- 
cils. These  are  to  determine  controversies  of  faith,  to  set  rules  for 
ordering  the  public  worship  of  God  and  the  government  of  his 
church,  to  receive  and  authoritatively  determine  complaints  of  mal- 
administration ;  but  are  not  to  handle  matters  which  are  not  ecclesi- 
astical, unless  by  way  of  humble  petition,  or  of  advice  for  satisfaction 
of  conscience. 

XXXII. 

OF  THE  STATE  OF  MAN  AFTER  DEATH  AND  OF  THE  RESURRECTION 

OF  THE  DEAD. 

i.  The  bodies  of  men,  after  death,  return  to  dust  and  see  corrup- 
tion, but  their  souls,  which  neither  die  nor  sleep,  return  to  God  who 
gave  them  ;  the  souls  of  believers,  being  then  made  perfect  in  holi- 
ness, do  pass  into  glory ;  but  the  souls  of  the  wicked  are  under  con- 
demnation, reserved  for  the  judgment  of  the  great  day. 

2.  At  the  last  day  there  shall,  by  the  power  of  Christ,  be  a  resur- 
rection of  the  dead,  both  of  the  just  and  of  the  unjust;  when  they 
that  are  alive  shall  be  changed,  and  the  dead  shall  be  united  again 
with  their  bodies;  and  the  bodies  of  them  that  sleep  in  Jesus  shall  be 
made  like  to  his  glorious  body. 


CAYUGA    TO    CEDAR    RAPIDS.  35 

XXXIII. 

OF    THE    LAST    JUDGMENT. 

i.  God  has  appointed  a  day,  wherein  he  will  judge  the  world  in 
righteousness  by  Jesus  Christ,  when  all  shall  give  account  of  them- 
selves to  God,  who  will  render  to  every  man  according  to  what  he 
hath  done  in  the  body,  whether  it  be  good  or  evil  ;  when  the  righteous 
shall  enter  into  everlasting  life,  and  the  wicked  shall  be  punished  with 
everlasting  destruction  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and  from  the 
glory  of  his  power. 

2.  As  Christ  would  have  us  certainly  persuaded  that  there  shall  be 
a  day  of  judgment,  so  will  he  have  that  day  unknown  to  men,  that 
they  may  always  be  watchful  for  his  appearing,  and  ever  prepared  to 
say,  "Amen,  even  so,  come  quickly,  Lord  Jesus." 

Approved  by  the  Presbytery. 

Charles  C.    Hemenwav,  Stated  Clerk. 

THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    CEDAR    RAPIDS. 

We  desire  that  Chapter  III.  be  so  recast  as  to  omit  all  material  that 
is  simply  human  deduction,  and  especially  such  material  as  can  not 
be  made  to  appear  consistent  with  the  Scriptural  statements  that  God's 
love  embraces  all  mankind,  and  has  provided  a  Savior,  who  is  freely 
and  really  offered  to  every  creature;  according  to  the  Word,  "God, 
who  is  the  Savior  of  men,  especially  of  them  that  believe."  And  we 
desire  that  this  truth  of  God's  love  for  a  lost  world,  so  central  to  the 
Gospel,  shall  receive  positive  mention  in  this  chapter. 

We  desire  that  Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  be  so  recast  as  to  state  the 
view  that  the  Scriptures  teach,  that  the  Holy  Spirit  worketh  when  and 
where  and  how  he  pleaseth,  and  that  the  scope  of  salvation  is  so  broad 
that  its  benefits  accrue  to  all  those  who  are  incapable  of  being  called 
by  the  Word,  and  who  thus  do  not  by  tlreir  own  will  and  in  a  state  of 
accountability  reject  the  redemption  provided  by  Christ. 

We  desire  that  Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  be  so  recast  as  not  to  seem  to 
deny  that  there  may  be  an  application  of  the  saving  work  of  Christ 
through  the  Spirit,  to  men  who  are  not  reached  by  the"  ministry  of  the 
Word. 

We  also  desire  that  in  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  all  allusion  to  the 
Pope  of  Rome  be  omitted. 

In  expressing  its  desire  for  these  changes,  the  Presbytery  of  Cedar 
Rapids  would  utter  its  profound  and  heartfelt  conviction,  that  it  is  not 
in  the  least  proposing  changes  which  will  affect  the  integrity  of  that 
system  of  doctrine  which  has  been  so  long  and  so  earnestly  professed 


36  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

by  us  as  a  Church,  and  which  is  still  held  so  dear;  but  the  rather  are 
we  impressed  with  the  fact  that  these  proposed  changes  will  fit  with  har- 
mony into  our  noble  Confession,  just  as  these  same  elements  of  sov- 
ereignty and  freedom,  election  and  love,  exist  side  by  side  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures. 

Attest:  W.  J.  Bollman,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    CENTRAL    DAKOTA. 

It  is  the  judgment  of  the  Presbytery  that  the  extent  to  which  the 
Confessional  change  shall  be  carried,  and  the  particular  form  it  shall 
take,  be  submitted  to  the  Presbyteries  for  constitutional  ratification, 
and  may  be  safely  left  to  such  large  and  representative  committee  as 
the  General  Assembly  may  appoint. 

Attest:  Abel  M.  Work,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    CHAMPLAIN. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  3,  add  "  For  their  sins." 

Chapter  III.,  Sections  4  and  7,  leave  out. 

In  place  of  Section  7,  insert  "God's  eternal  decree  hindereth  no 
man  from  accepting  the  salvation  of  Jesus  Christ  as  it  is  freely  offered 
in  the  Gospel ;  nor  is  it  to  be  so  construed  as  to  contradict  the  declara- 
tions of  the  Scriptures,  that  Christ  is  the  propitiation  for  the  sins  of 
the  whole  world,  and  that  God  is  not  willing  that  any  should  perish, 
but  that  all  should  come  to  repentance." 

Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  omit  the  word   "  elect,"  before  "  infants.'' 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  substitute  the  word  "rejecting  "  in  place  of 
the  words  "  not  professing." 

Insert  in  some  suitable  place  in  the  Confession  a  full  and  definite 
statement  of  God's  love  for  all  men ;  the  full  and  free  offer  of  salva- 
tion to  all;  and  the  obligation  of  the  Church  to  preach  the  Gospel  of 
salvation  to  all  the  world. 

Attest:  P.  J.  H.  Myers,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF  CHEMUNG. 

The  Presbytery  of  Chemung  gives  the  following  answer  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly's  second  question  on  revision  : 

Inasmuch  as  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith  has  held  a  com- 
manding position  among  the  creeds  of  Christendom  for  more  than  two 
hundred  years ;  and. 


CENTRAL    DAKOTA    TO    CHICAGO.  37 

Inasmuch  as  its  articles  are  so  logically  articulated  that  emendation 
can  scarcely  fail  to  partake  of  the  nature  of  mutilation,  which  we 
should  deplore;  and, 

Inasmuch  as  there  is  a  diversity  of  opinion  in  the  Church  as  to  what 
changes,  if  any,  by  addition  or  excision,  should  be  made;  and 

Inasmuch  as  it  is  inevitable  that  no  uninspired  creed  can  exactly 
express  the  mind  of  the  Church  as  led  by  the  Spirit  in  successive  cen- 
turies ;  and, 

Inasmuch  as  there  is  now,  we  believe,  under  this  guidance,  a 
demand  for  more  adequate  expression  of  the  love  of  God  to  men, 
with  the  deductions  flowing  therefrom ;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  deliberate  opinion  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Chemung  that,  instead  of  revising  the  old  creed,  it  will  be  better  and 
more  conducive  to  the  harmony,  stability  and  spiritual  development 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  to  formulate  a  brief  and  simple  expression 
of  the  system  of  doctrine  contained  in  the  Westminster  Confession 
and  in  the  Word  of  God. 

To  this  end  the  Presbytery  of  Chemung  overture  the  General 
Assembly  to  formulate  a  brief,  simple  and  evangelical  statement  of 
belief,  as  held  and  taught  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  to-day ;  which 
statement  shall  be  regarded  as  an  interpretation  of  our  existing  Stand- 
ards.        Attest:  Charles  C.  Carr,  Stated  Clerk. 

THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  CHICAGO. 

Replying  to  the  second  question,  "  If  so,  in  what  respects,  and  to 
what  extent?"  the  Presbytery  would  answer  that  in  the  judgment  of 
the  Presbytery,  the  extent  to  which  Confessional  change  shall  be 
carried,  and  the  particular  form  it  shall  take  before  submission  to  the 
Presbyteries  for  Constitutional  ratification,  may  safely  be  left  to  such 
large  and  representative  committee  as  the  General  Assembly  shall 
appoint,  it  being  provided  that  in  any  Confessional  change  at  least  the 
three  following  points  shall  be  secured  : 

i.  That  the  full  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrines  as  contained 
in  the  Confession  of  Faith  shall  be  kept  inviolate. 

2.  That  those  forms  of  statement,  especially  in  the  third  and  tenth 
Chapters,  which  convey,  or  seem  to  convey,  erroneous  or  unscrip- 
tural  implication,  and  which  are  occasions  of  stumbling,  be  modified 
or  eliminated. 

3.  That  God's  love  for  the  world,  and  his  commission  to  preach 
the  Gospel  to  every  creature,  be  given  fuller  and  more  definite  expres- 
sion. 

Attest :  Edwin  R.  Davis,  Stated  Clerk. 


38  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF    CHICKASAW. 


i.  That  we  desire  no  revision  which  will  eliminate  any  biblical 
doctrine  from  our  Confession  of  Faith. 

2.  We  desire  such  sections  revised  as  are  now  charged  with  cast- 
ing a  shadow  on  the  doctrine  of  God's  love. 

3.  We  have  no  desire  for  a  new  Confession,  but  we  would  be 
glad  to  have  a  brief  statement  of  doctrine  for  the  use  of  our  church- 
members,  young  people  and  inquirers. 

4.  We  fervently  pray  that  the  divine  wisdom  may  guide  the 
General  Assembly  in  the  work  of  revision,  and  that  God's  truth  may 
be  so  presented  as  to  win  souls  to  our  Lord  and  Master. 

Attest :  W.  J.  Moffatt,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  CHILE. 

Resolved,  That  this  Presbytery  does  not  think  best  to  bind  itself  to  any 
one  plan  of  revision,  but  would  suggest  the  following  in  order  of 
preference  : 

1.  That  the  General  Assembly  formulate  a  new,  shorter  and  sim- 
pler statement  of  the  necessary  and  essential  doctrines  of  the  West- 
minster Confession. 

2.  That  the  General  Assembly  clearly  define  the  terms  of  sub- 
scription, giving  to  the  words  "containing  the  system  of  doctrine"  a 
broad  and  catholic  meaning. 

3.  Revise  the  present  Confession  by  omitting  Sections  3,  4  and 
7  of  Chapter  III.,  Section  6  of  Chapter  V.,  Sections  3  and  4  of 
Chapter  X.;  by  revising  Section  2  of  Chapter  X.,  Section  3  of  Chap- 
ter XXIV.,  Section  6  of  Chapter  XXV.  On  Sections  2  of  Chapter 
III.  and  2  of  Chapter  XXX.  the  vote  was  even  to  omit  and  to  revise. 

Attest :  W.  H.  Lester,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  CHIPPEWA. 

1.  We  desire  that  the  third  Chapter,  after  first  section,  be  so  recast 
as  to  include  these  things  only:  The  sovereignty  of  God  in  election; 
the  general  love  of  God  for  all  mankind  ;  the  salvation  in  Christ  Jesus 
provided  for  all,  and  to  be  preached  to  every  creature. 

2.  We  desire  that  the  tenth  Chapter  be  so  revised  as  not  to  appear 
to  discriminate  concerning  infants  dying  in  infancy,  or  so  as  to  omit 
all  reference  to  them  (Section  3);  and  so  as  to  preclude  that  explana- 
tion of  Section  4  which  makes  it  teach  the  damnation  of  all  the  heathen, 
or  makes  it  deny  that  there  are  any  elect  heathen,   who  are  regen- 


CHICKASAW    TO    CHOCTAW.  39 

erated  and  saved  by  Christ  through  the  Spirit,  and  who  endeavor  to 
walk  in  penitence  and  humility,  according  to  the  measure  of  light 
which  God  has  been  pleased  to  grant  them. 

The  above  statements  are  identical  with  those  of  the  New  York 
Presbytery  in  its  answer  to  the  same  questions ;  and  it  is  the  wish  of 
Presbytery  as  expressed  by  vote,  to  make  the  entire  answer  of  New 
York  Presbytery  the  answer  of  the  Presbytery  of  Chippewa. 

Attest :  C.  C.  Todd,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTEKY  OF  CHOCTAW. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  4,  strike  it  out. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  7,  amend  to  read  thus:  "The  rest  of  man- 
kind God  was  pleased,  according  to  the  unsearchable  counsel  of  his 
own  will,  whereby  in  infinite  wisdom,  goodness  and  truth  he  extend- 
ed! or  withholdeth  mercy,  to  pass  by,  and  to  ordain  them  to  dishonor 
and  wrath  for  their  sin,  to  the  praise  of  his  glorious  justice ;  yet  so,  as 
thereby  neither  does  God  hinder  any  one  from  accepting  Christ,  nor 
is  the  sufficiency  for  all  men  of  his  orovision  of  salvation  in  Christ  in 
any  way  impaired,  nor  is  there  put  upon  the  free  offer  of  this  provision 
of  salvation,  so  that  whosoever  will  may  accept  it  and  be  saved,  any 
limitation  whatsoever." 

Chapter  X.,  Section  2,  strike  out  the  words,  "is  altogether  passive 
therein  until." 

In  place  of  the  present  Section  3  put  the  following  new  section  : 

Section  3.  This  effectual  call  is  to  be  distinguished  from,  yet  does 
not  exclude  or  antagonize,  but  consists  with,  that  general  call  which 
is  made  through  the  Gospel,  and  which  has  its  justification  in  the 
infinite  love  of  God  for  the  world  as  expressed  in  the  gift  of  his 
beloved  Son  as  an  atoning  sacrifice.  And  this  atoning  sacrifice,  being 
sufficient  for  all  men  and  adapted  to  all,  and  taking  every  legal 
obstacle  to  salvation  out  of  the  way  of  all,  is  to  be  freely  offered  to 
all,  as  the  complete  and  most  gracious  divine  warrant  for  the  assur- 
ance that  whosoever  believeth  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  shall  be  saved. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  amend  to  read  thus:  "Others  not  elect, 
although  they  may  be  called  by  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  and  may 
have  some  common  operations  of  the  Spirit,  yet  they  never  truly 
come  to  Christ,  and  therefore  can  not  be  saved.  Nor  can  any  who 
reject  the  Gospel,  or  who  have  never  heard  the  Gospel,  be  saved  on 
the  ground  of  their  good  works.  Yet  this  is  not  to  be  understood  as 
denying  to  any  sinner  who  is  penitent  for  sin  and  devoutly  seeking 
after  God,  the  possibility  of  salvation  by  Christ  through   the  Spirit, 


40  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

working   without  the   Word,   in  the  liberty  and  sovereignty  of  his 
regenerating  power." 

Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  strike  out  all  after  the  word  "  Christ." 
Attest :  John  Edwards,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  CINCINNATI. 

The  Presbytery  is  opposed  to  any  change  in  the  Standards  that  will 
impair  the  system  of  doctrine  known  as  the  Calvinistic  system. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  3,  omit  last  clause  after  the  word  "  life." 

Chapter  III.,  Section  4,  omit  the  entire  section. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  5,  insert  the  words  "not  because  of"  in  the 
place  of  the  word  "  without." 

Chapter  III.,  Section  6,  eliminate  the  last  sentence,  beginning  with 
the  word  "  Neither." 

Chapter  III.,  Section  8,  insert  the  following  :  "  Moreover,  the  doc- 
trine is  not  to  be  construed  as  limiting  the  free  offer  of  the  Gospel  to 
all  men,  or  as  contradicting  the  Scripture  declaration  that  God  so 
loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever 
believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life." 

Chapter  VIII.,  Section  5,  that  the  phrase  in  the  Shorter  Catechism 
(Answer  25)  "the  divine  justice  "  be  substituted  for  the  phrase  "  the 
justice  of  his  Father." 

Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  amend  so  as  to  read,  "All  infants,  dying  in 
infancy,  and  other  elect  persons  who  are  incapable,  from  birth  to 
death,  of  being  outwardly  called  by  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  are 
regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ,  through  the  Spirit,  who  worketh 
when,  and  where,  and  how  he  pleaseth." 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  instead  of  words  "not  professing"  insert 
words  "not  accepting." 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  after  the  word  "whatsoever,"  insert  the 
words  "  than  by  Jesus  Christ." 

Chapter  XI.,  Section  3,  substitute  the  phrase  in  the  Shorter  Cate- 
chism (Answer  25)  "  the  divine  justice  "  for  the  phrase  "  his  Father's 
justice." 

Chapter  XVI.,  Section  7,  referred  to  the  General  Assembly  for  such 
changes  as  may  free  the  statement  from  practical  misconceptions. 

Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  strike  out  all  after  the  word  "thereof" 
in  the  third  line  of  the  section. 

Also,  Presbytery  recommends  the  insertion  in  some  suitable  place 
in  the  Confession  of  a  full  and  definite  statement  of  God's  love  for  all 


CINCINNATI    TO    CLEVELAND.  41 

men,    the   free   offer  of  salvation   to   all,    and   the  obligation  of  the 
Church  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  salvation  to  all  the  world. 

Attest :  Edward  T.  Swiggett,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    CLEVELAND. 

We  qualify  this  expression  by  the  proviso  that  we  desire  no 
change  whatever  which  in  our  judgment  would  mutilate  or  weaken 
the  biblical  system  of  doctrine  contained  in  our  time-honored  and 
noble  Confession,  and  to  which  system  our  office-bearers  subscribe. 
We  desire  only  such  minimums  of  alteration  as  would  eliminate 
redundant  propositions — or  philosophical  deductions  and  speculations 
not  clearly  stated  in  the  Word  of  God — such  as  would  exhibit  a  truer 
and  more  scriptural  balance  between  the  doctrines  propounded,  and 
emphasize  the  great  commission  of  Christ  resting  on  the  heart  of  the 
modern  Church,  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  his  salvation  to  every  crea- 
ture. 

In  regard  to  the  other  question,  "  If  so,  in  what  respects,  and  to  what 
extent?"  we  decline  at  present  to  particularize  by  verbal  emendation, 
but  only  to  present  general  topical  suggestions.  *  For  the  reason  that 
some  statements  and  forms  of  statement  have  proved  themselves 
peculiarly  liable  to  misunderstanding;  and  others  are  so  liable  as  to 
lay  open  our  cherished  system  of  divine  truth  to  unmerited  reproach, 
while  at  the  same  time,  having  very  questionable  authority  from  the 
Bible,  as  understood  by  the  mind  of  the  Church  to-day,  we  would 
prefer  : 

i.  To  strike  out  in  Chapter  III.  the  third,  fourth  and  seventh  Sec- 
tions— or  so  to  have  the  Chapter  recast  as  to  exclude  the  statement  of 
sovereign,  eternal,  unconditional  reprobation  for  any  of  God's  crea- 
tures. 

2.  In  reference  to  Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  we  should  approve  a 
clear  expression  of  our  belief  that  none  dying  in  infancy  shall  eter- 
nally perish. 

3.  In  Section  4,  Chapter  X.,  and  elsewhere,  we  disclaim  the  cer- 
tain damnation  of  all  the  heathen  world  as  part  of  our  faith  or  as  our 
understanding  of  the  Word  of  God. 

4.  In    Chapter    XXIV.,    Section    3,    eliminate    the    mention    of- 
Roman  Catholics  as  necessarily  idolaters,  and, 

5.  In  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  strike  out  our  assertion  that  the 
Pope  of  Rome  is  that  Antichrist. 

6.  Especially  we  desire  to  have  more  prominently  stated  full  on  the 
face  of  our  Confession  the  love  of  the  triune  God  for  all  men,  as  revealed 


42  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

in  redemption  ;  also  the  fullness  and  freedom  of  offered  salvation, 
wrought  by  Christ  and  applied  by  the  Spirit,  with  a  special  emphasis 
laid  upon  the  missionary  duty  of  the  Church. 

Attest:  E.  Bushnell,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  COLUMBIA. 

Chapter  III.  Revise  in  respect  to  its  treatment  of  the  doctrine  of 
preterition  and  its  possible  fatalistic  interpretation. 

Chapter  X.  The  revision  of  this  chapter  so  that  it  shall  not  appear 
to  discriminate  concerning  infants  dying  in  infancy,  it  being  the  belief 
of  the  Church  that  all  infants  dying  in  infancy,  baptized  or  unbaptized, 
are  saved. 

Attest :  Geo.  C.  Yeisley,  Stated  Clerk. 

THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  COLUMBUS. 

The  Presbytery  of  Columbus  continues  sincerely  to  receive  and 
adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith  of  this  Church,  as  containing  the  system 
of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

It  would  not  consent  to  any  change  in  the  doctrinal  standards  which 
would  destroy  or  impair  the  integrity  of  the  system  commonly  known 
as  the  Calvinistic,  but  it  recognizes  the  fact  that,  to  many,  certain 
statements  and  expressions  in  the  Confession  seem  to  teach  what  the 
Church  does  not  hold,  and  so  are  occasion  of  stumbling  to  many  good 
Christians,  in  the  Church,  and  out  of  it. 

To  the  second  question  it  answers  :  We  respectfully  overture  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  1890  to  appoint  a  competent  and  judicious  committee 
to  examine  carefully  the  Confession,  and  report  to  the  next  Assembly, 
whether  in  its  judgment,  such  changes  are  needed,  or  may  be  made 
by  way  of  elimination,  explanation  or  addition,  as  without  impairing 
the  integrity  of  the  system,  shall  remove  any  just  cause  of  criticism  ; 
and  shall  set  forth  more  fully  the  free  offer  of  salvation  to  all  men, 
the  office  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  the  duty  of  the  world's  evangelization. 
Attest :  John  A.  Ewalt,  Stated  Clerk. 

THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  COUNCIL  BLUFFS. 

i.  That  the  system  of  doctrine  contained  in  the  Confession  of 
Faith  be  maintained  in  its  entire  integrity. 

2.  That  such  changes  be  made  in  certain  portions  of  the  Confes- 
sion, especially  in  the  third  and  tenth  Chapters,  as  will,  if  possible, 
free  them  from  all  doubtful  or  erroneous  implications. 


COLUMBIA    TO    CKAWFORDSVILLE.  43 

3.  That  a  more  full  and  definite  expression  be  given  in  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith,  to  God's  love  for  all  mankind,  to  the  fullness  and 
freeness  of  salvation  provided  in  Christ  for  all,  and  to  be  preached  to 
all  mankind. 

Attest:  Albert  L.  Sarchet,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  CRAWFORDSV1LLE. 

The  Presbytery  answers  that  in  its  judgment  no  new  doctrine  is 
wanted,  but  that  such  a  revision  of  the  Confession  is  desirable  and 
necessary  as  will  express  the  faith  of  the  Church  in  more  scriptural 
proportion,  giving  much  less  relative  prominence  to  statements  of  the 
divine  sovereignty  and  foreordination,  and  much  greater  emphasis  and 
prominence  to  the  divine  compassion  and  fatherly  love,  freely  offering 
salvation  to  all  mankind,  which  is  the  distinguishing  characteristic  of 
the  Gospel. 

If,  however,  a  more  specific  answer  is  required,  we  recommend 
especially  the  following,  viz. : 

We  concur  with  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  with  regard  to  Chap- 
ter III.  "  We  desire  that  the  third  Chapter,  after  the  first  section,  be 
so  recast  as  to  include  these  things  only  :  '  the  sovereignty  of  God  in 
election,  the  general  love  of  God  for  all  mankind,  the  salvation  in 
Christ  Jesus  provided  for  all,  and  to  be  preached  to  every  creature.' ' 

Chapter  X.  With  regard  to  the  tenth  Chapter  we  recommend  that 
the  first  section  be  amended  by  omitting  the  words  "and  those  only;" 
that  in  the  third  section  the  word  "elect  "  be  omitted  before  the  word 
"  infants  "  and  before  the  word  "  persons." 

Chapter  XXV.  With  regard  to  the  twenty-fifth  Chapter,  we  recom- 
mend that  after  the  word  "Christ"  the  words  "  who  is  the  supreme 
and  only  "  be  inserted,  and  that  the  word  "  thereof"  be  omitted. 

Chapter  XXX.  We  recommend  that  the  second  section  of  the 
thirtieth  Chapter  be  omitted. 

These  recommendations  are  not  intended  to  include  all  the  points  at 
which  the  Presbytery  would  welcome  revision,  but  to  indicate  the 
spirit  and  tone  of  such  revision  as  we  desire.  Whatever  other  changes 
in  the  Confession  these  recommendations  may  render  necessary  in 
order  to  its  consistency  as  a  whole,  we  feel  may  safely  be  left  to 
such  committee  as  the  General  Assembly  may  appoint.  It  is  the 
judgment  of  this  Presbytery  that  a  summary  or  supplemental  state- 
ment of  our  doctrine,  in  such  brevity  and  simplicity,  as  to  adapt  itself 
to  use  in  the  public  services  of  the  Church  and  in  the  family,  should 
without  unnecessary   delay    be  prepared    and  authorized,    believing 


44  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

that  such  a  statement  would  be  most  helpful  and  beneficient  for  the 
work  of  the  Church." 

Substantially  a  correct  report:        Jno.  M.  Bishop,  Stated  Clerk. 

THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    DAKOTA. 

i.  In  those  respects  in  which  the  present  forms  of  statement  are 
either  ambiguous  or  over-strong  and  extra-scriptural,  and  to  such  an 
extent  in  those  cases  as  is  necessary  to  make  the  statements  of  the 
particular  beliefs  clear  and  scriptural. 

2.  By  such  additions  as  shall  set  forth  more  clearly  and  strongly 
God's  love  for  the  world  and  his  wish  that  all  persons  should  believe 
in  Christ  and  be  saved  ;  also  our  belief  that  all  dying  in  infancy  are 
saved  by  sovereign  grace  in  Christ. 

Attest:  John  P.   Williamson,  Stated  Clerk. 

THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    DAYTON. 

Answer  No.  i.  Yes,  provided  that  the  integrity  of  the  system  of 
doctrine  contained  in  our  Confession  of  Faith  be  left  unimpaired. 

We  prefer  to  leave  large  discretion  to  the  Assembly  and  to  such 
Committee  on  Revision  as  the  affirmative  answer  of  the  first  question 
will  call  for,  but  would  suggest  changes  as  follows  : 

That  Chapter  III.,  Sections  2  to  8  inclusive,  be  so  revised  that  the 
doctrines  which  it  contains  may  be  set  forth  in  more  scriptural  language, 
and  such  as  will  emphasize  human  responsibility  and  the  love  of  God 
for  all  men. 

Chapter  VI.,  Section  4,  be  so  revised  that  while  the  malignity  of 
the  corruption  of  our  nature  in  original  sin,  in  so  far  as  all  spiritual 
powers  and  works  are  concerned,  beset  forth,  yet  that  the  natural  vir- 
tues which  we  see  exemplified  even  among  the  heathen  may  not  seem 
to  stand  in  the  same  condemnation. 

Chapter  VII.,  Section  4,  be  revised  so  that  the  word  "frequently  " 
disappear,  inasmuch  as  there  is  but  one  place  in  the  Scriptures  in 
which  the  word  "testament"  is  used  in  the  sense  intended  by  the 
Confession,  viz.:     Hebrews  ix.  15-17. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  be  so  revised  that  it  will  read  :  ''All  per- 
sons dying  in  infancy,  and  all  other  persons  who,  from  birth  to  death, 
are  incapable  of  being  outwardly  called  by  the  ministry  of  the  Word, 
are  regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ  through  the  Holy  Spirit,  who 
worketh  when,  and  where,  and  how  he  pleaseth." 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  be  so  revised  that  the  operations  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  "who  worketh  when,  and  where,  and  how  he  pleaseth,"  be  not 


DAKOTA    TO    DENY  EI!.  45 

limited  by  the  profession  of  the  Christian   religion,  or  of  a  necessity 
by  a  scriptural  knowledge  of  the  truths  of  that  religion. 

Chapter  XV.,  Section  4,  has  the  word  "damnation"  twice.  For 
the  first  we  would  substitute  "  punishment,"  and  for  the  second, 
"  final  condemnation,"  as  this  would  maintain  the  doctrine  taught 
with  equal  truth  and  plainness. 

Chapter  XXV.,  Section  1,  fourth  line,  supply,  after  "  Christ,"  the 
words,  "  who  is  the  supreme  and  only,"  so  that  it  will  read  :  "  The 
catholic  or  universal  church,  which  is  invisible,  consists  of  the  whole 
number  of  the  elect  that  have  been,  are,  or  shall  be  gathered  into  one 
undir  Christ,  who  is  the  supreme  and  only  head  thereof,  and  is  the 
spouse,  the  body,  the  fullness  of  him  that  filleth  all  in  all."  Then 
omit  the  sixth  or  last  Section,  which  calls  the  Pope  "  that  Antichrist, 
that  man  of  sin." 

Chapter  XXIX.,  Section  1,  be  so  revised  that  where  the  "  Lord's 
Supper"  is  said  to  be  obligatory  to  the  end  of  the  world,  the  more 
scriptural  idea  be  substituted,  viz.:  "  That  it  should  continue  until 
Christ  come  again." 

Chapter  XXX..  Section  2,  be  so  revised  that  the  power  of  the 
keys  there  committed  to  the  ministry  according  to  Scripture  teaching, 
be  plainly  set  forth  as  only  "  ministerial  "  and  "  declarative." 

Attest :  W.  W.  Colmery,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  DENVER. 

Amend  Chapter  III.  of  the  Confession  by  eliminating  Sections  3 
and  4,  causing  Section  5  to  take  the  place  of  3,  and  be  changed  so  as 
to  read  :  "By  his  decree,  for  the  manifestion  of  his  glory,  God,  before 
the  foundation  of  the  world  was  laid,  according  to  his  eternal  and 
immutable  purpose,  and  the  secret  and  good  pleasure  of  his  will,  hath 
chosen  in  Christ  unto  everlasting  glory  those  of  mankind  predestinated 
unto  life,  out  of  his  mere  free  grace  and  love,  without  any  foresight  of 
faith  or  good  works,  or  perseverance  in  either  of  them,  or  any  other 
thing  in  the  creature,  as  conditions  or  causes  moving  him  thereunto, 
and  all  to  the  praise  of  his  glorious  grace." 

2.  That  Section  3  of  Chapter  X.  be  amended  so  as  to  read: 
"Infants  dying  in  infancy,  and  all  other  elect  persons  who  are  inca- 
pable of  being  outwardly  called  by  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  are  regen- 
erated and  saved  by  Christ  through  the  Spirit,  who  worketh  when, 
and  where,  and  how  he  pleaseth." 

3.  That  Section  6,  Chapter  XXV.,  be  amended  so  as  to  read: 
"There  is  no  other  head  of  the  Church  but  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 


46  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

Only  some  such  changes  as  the  above  is  the  Presbytery  of  Denver 
prepared  to  support  ;  radical  or  extensive  amendments  are  not  desired 
by  this  Presbytery. 

Attest:  John  Wilson,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  DES  MOINES. 

In  answer  to  the  second  question  in  the  Overture  — In  view  of  the 
manifest  difficulty  of  formulating,  in  the  brief  time  we  can  give  to  the 
consideration  of  the  subject,  a  statement  which  would  accurately 
represent  the  views  on  the  subject,  of  the  majority  of  the  Presbytery, 
we  are  willing  to  commit  the  work  of  revision  to  a  committee  which 
will  fairly  represent  the  whole  Church,  with  the  earnest  prayer  that 
the  Spirit  of  God  may  guide  them  in  such  way  that  the  result  of  their 
deliberations  may  be  in  thorough  accord  with  the  teaching  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  and  greatly  promote  the  unity  and  growth  of  Christ's 
kingdom. 

Attest  :  Eugene  A.  Walker,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  DETROIT. 

We  desire  a  modification  of  certain  statements  of  Chapters  III.  and 
X.  as  are  liable  to  misunderstanding  and  misinterpretation,  and 
expose  our  system  of  doctrine  to  unmerited  criticism  ;  and  we  believe 
that  the  Confession  can  be  so  amended  as  to  set  forth  the  same  doc- 
trines in  language  which  shall  be  in  more  exact  accord  with  the 
teaching  of  the  Scriptures. 

But  we  desire  no  recasting  or  revision  which  shall  impair  the 
integrity  of  the  Pauline  system  which  is  set  forth  in  the  Confession. 
Attest :  Wm.  A.  McCorkle,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  EAST  FLORIDA. 

Presbytery  thought  it  best  to  leave  the  formulating  of  amendments 
to  the  General  Assembly  or  to  such  committee  as  it  might  appoint. 
Attest:  J.  K.  Wight,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  EAST  OREGON. 

By  referring  the  matter  to  a  special  committee  or  commission,  with 
instructions  to  recast  the  same  throughout  in  clear,  simple  and  concise 
Bible  language,  setting  forth  as  briefly  as  possible  the  doctrine  of  our 
church  as  accepted  and  taught  at  the  present  day. 


DES    MOINES    TO    ELIZABETH.  ,47 

We  further  recommend  that  said  committee  or  commission  be  elected 
at  the  next  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly,  with  instructions  to 
report  at  the  meeting  next  held  after  the  appointment  of  said  com- 
mittee or  commission. 

Attest:  T.  M.  Boyd,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  ELIZABETH. 

To  the  second  question  we  submit  the  following  in  reply: 
i.  That  Presbytery  is  a  unit  in  its  cordial  acceptance  of  and  adher- 
ence to  the  system  of  doctrine  contained  in  the  Confession  of  Faith, 
and  is  wholly  adverse  to  any  change  which  could  be  justly  regarded  as 
surrendering  or  compromising  any  of  the  essential  doctrines  con- 
tained in  our  Standards. 

2.  That  while  the  truth  itself,  revealed  in  the  Word  of  .God  and 
formulated  doctrinally  in  Creed  or  Confession,  abideth,  like  its 
Author,  "  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  forever,"  nevertheless,  the 
intellectual  apprehension  of  the  truth,  and  the  method  of  setting  it 
forth  in  terms,  are  subject  to  change  in  the  lapse  of  time,  as  the  con- 
tinued searching  of  the  Scriptures  presents  familiar  truths  in  clearer 
light.  Hence  it  has  come  to  pass,  in  the  judgment  of  Presbytery, 
that  the  form  of  doctrinal  statement  in  our  Confession  appears,  in  a 
few  instances,  needlessly  severe,  narrow,  and  repelling ;  and  in  one 
or  two  instances,  at  least,  to  lack  the  clear  warrant  of  Scripture;  the 
effect  being  to  burden  the  minds  of  not  a  few  in  our  Church — minis- 
ters and  laymen — with  a  sense  of  bondage.  In  illustration  of  the 
above  statement,  and  as  indicating  the  desire  of  Presbytery  in  regard 
to  revision,  we  cite — 

(a)  Chapter  III.,  Sections  3,  4  and  7.  The  objection  we  offer  to 
these  passages  is  that  they  contain  statements  as  to  the  purpose  and 
pleasure  of  God,  which — whether  they  are  or  are  not  true  in  fact 
— have  not  been  so  clearly  set  forth  in  Scripture  as  to  demand  or 
justify  the  terms  in  which  they  are  presented  in  the  Confession  of 
Faith  ;  and  which  are  not  essential  to  a  clear  and  positive  declaration 
of  belief  in  the  Decree  of  God. 

(b)  Presbytery  would  call  attention  to  Chapter  X,  Section  3,  in 
regard  to  "elect  infants,"  as  being  ambiguous,  and  capable  of  being 
construed — as  has  been  affirmed — in  three  different  ways.  In  the 
judgment  of  Presbytery,  the  belief  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
today  would  be  better  stated,  and  a  stone  of  stumbling  removed,  by 
substituting  for  the  above  section  the  following:  "All  elect  persons 
who  are  incapable  in  this  life  of  being  outwardly  called  by  the  min- 


48  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

istry  of  the  Word,  are  regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ  through  the 
Spirit,  who  worketh  when,  and  where,  and  how  he  pleaseth." 

(7)  We  would  recommend  that  Section  4  of  Chapter  X  be  stricken  out. 

(d)  We  desire  the  insertion  in  some  suitable  place  in  the  Confession, 
of  a  fuller  statement  of  the  clear  and  explicit  declarations  of  Scripture 
concerning  God's  love  for  ail  men,  the  free  offer  of  the  Gospel  for  the 
salvation  of  all  who  believe  on  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  obligation  of  the 
Church  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  Eternal  Life  to  all  the  world. 

Presbytery  is  content  with  submitting  the  above,  as,  in  its  judgment, 
presenting  sufficient  reasons  in  support  of  its  affirmative  answer  to 
the  first  question  of  the  Overture.  We  have  not  deemed  it  essential 
or  advisable  to  present  a  more  detailed  statement  of  desire  as  to  the 
precise  form  of  change  to  be  made  in  these  sections  of  our  Confession. 
This  will  properly  result  from  careful  consideration  on  the  part  of  those 
to  whom  General  Assembly  may  be  pleased  to  commit  the  work  of 
amending' the  Confession,  (if  it  be  called  for  by  the  Church),  prepara- 
tory to  final  submission  to  the  Presbyteries.  We  would  therefore 
await  such  submission  of  proposed  chinges  by  the  General  Assembly, 
rather  than  suggest  amendments  in  more  precise  form  in  this  our  reply 
to  General  Assembly's  Overture. 

Attest :  Samuel  Parry,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  EMPORIA. 

It  is  the  judgment  of  the  Presbytery  that  the  extent  of  Confessional 
change  to  be  attempted  may  safely  be  left  to  such  committee  as  the 
General  Assembly  may  appoint,  it  being  provided  that  in  any  pro- 
posed change  at  least  the  three  following  points  shall  be  secured  : 

1.  That  the  full  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrine  as  contained  in 
our  Confession  of  Faith  be  kept  inviolate. 

2.  That  the  forms  of  statements,  especially  in  the  third  and  tenth 
Chapters,  which  convey,  or  seem  to  convey,  erroneous  or  unscriptural 
implications,  and  which  are  occasions  of  stumbling,  be  modified  or 
eliminated. 

3.  That  God's  love  for  the  world,  and  his  command  to  preach  the 
Gospel  to  every  creature,  be  given  fuller  and  more  definite  expression. 

Attest:  Jno.  H.  Bright,  Stated  Clerk. 

THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    ERIE. 

We  desire  such  revision  as  will  not  impair  the  system  of  doctrine 
taught  in  the  Confession ;  and  which  Will  bring  the  Confession  into 
fuller  accord  with  the  present  belief  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 


EMPORIA    TO    FLINT.  49 

the  United  States  of  America  as  to  the  teaching  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures. In  accordance  with  this  desire,  we  recommend  that  Chapters 
III.  and  X.  be  amended. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  3,  insert  "for  their  sins"  after  the  word 
"foreordained." 

Chapter  III.,  Section  4,  omit  this  section. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  6,  omit  the  last  sentence,  beginning  with  the 
word  "  neither." 

Chapter  III.,  Section  7,  omit  this  section. 

Insert  as  a  separate  section,  to  precede  Section  8.  the  following  in 
substance:  "  God's  decree  hindereth  no  one  from  accepting  Christ, 
as  he  is  freely  offered  to  us  in  the  Gospel ;  nor  ought  it  to  be  so  con- 
strued as  to  contradict  the  declarations  of  Scripture  that  Christ  is  the 
propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  and  that  God  is  not  will- 
ing that  any  should  perish,  but  that  all  should  come  to  repentance." 

Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  omit  the  word  "elect"  in  the  two  places  in 
which  it  occurs. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  omit  all  which  follows  the  words  "can  not 
be  saved,"  and  substitute  the  following:  "Nor  can  any  who  reject 
the  Gospel,  or  who  have  never  heard  the  Gospel,  be  saved  on  the 
mere  ground  of  their  good  works.  Yet  this  is  not  to  be  understood  as 
denying  to  any  sinner  who  is  penitent  for  sin  and  devoutly  seeking 
after  God,  fhe  possibility  of  salvation  by  Christ,  through  the  Spirit, 
working  without  the  Word." 

Insert  in  some  suitable  place  in  the  Confession  a  full  and  definite 
statement  of  God's  infinite  love  for  all  men,  the  free  offer  of  salvation 
to  all,  and  the  obligation  of  the  Church  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  sal- 
vation to  all  the  world. 

Attest  :  Am/i  Wilson,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    FLINT. 

Resolved,  First,  That  the  full  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrine  as 
contained  in  the  Confession  of  Faith  be  kept  inviolate. 

Second,  That  those  forms  of  statement,  especially  in  the  third  and 
tenth  Chapters,  which  convey,  or  seem  to  convey,  erroneous  impres- 
sions, and  which  are  the  occasion  of  stumbling,  be  modified  or  elim- 
inated. 

Third,  That  God's  love  for  the  world  and  his  commission  to  preach 
the  Gospel  to  every  creature,  be  given  fuller  and  more  definite 
expression. 

Attest:  Geo.  S.   Woophull,  Stated  Clerk. 


50  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  FARGO. 

We  adhere  with  unshaken  loyalty  to  the  system  of  doctrine  con- 
tained in  our  subordinate  Standards,  and  recognize  them  as  products 
of  master  workmen,  so  harmoniously  wrought  and  so  logically  consis- 
tent, that  essential  change  in  one  will  destroy  the  symmetry  of  the 
whole;  and  also,  that  elimination  of  any  particular  doctrinal  phrase 
or  sentence  will  not  obviate  external  objections  to  that  doctrine.  We 
desire,  therefore,  the  minimum  of  revision  that  will  remove  the 
unmerited  reproach  under  which  we  now  labor. 

Attest:  G.  Sumner  Baskervill,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  FORT  DODGE. 

That  the  General  Assembly  shall  appoint  a  judicious  and  conserva- 
tive committee,  which  shall  draft  overtures  for  the  action  of  the 
Assembly,  and  if  approved,  to  be  sent  down  to  the  Presbyteries  for 
their  consideration.  Said  overtures  to  contain  changes  in  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith  only  where  it  may  be  deemed  liable  to  misunder- 
standing. But  such  changes  shall  in  no  wise  impair  the  integrity  of 
the  Calvinistic  system  of  doctrine  as  at  present  subscribed  by  us. 

Attest :  Harvey  Hostetler,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  FORT  WAYNE. 

i.  We  are  opposed  to  any  revision  which  would  impair  the  integ- 
rity of  the  system  of  doctrine  contained  in  the  Confession  of  Faith, 
and  we  hold  that  among  the  doctrines  essential  to  the  system  are  those 
of  the  divine  foreordination  of  whatsoever  comes  to  pass,  and  the 
divine  sovereignty  of  election  to  everlasting  life. 

2.  We  believe  that  within  the  lines  which  define  the  integrity  of  the 
system  of  doctrine,  changes  may  be  made  and  ought  to  be  made  by 
way  of  eliminations,  additions,  substitutions  and  modifications  of 
language. 

3.  We  believe  that  a  satisfactory,  desirable  and  practical  way  of 
accomplishing  revision  is  for  the  General  Assembly  to  appoint  a  large, 
competent  and  judicious  committee  who  shall  take  notice  of  all  points 
regarding  which  a  desire  for  revision  shall  be  expressed  by  the  Pres- 
byteries, give  the  whole  matter  a  thorough  examination  and  consider- 
ation, and  prepare  an  overture  containing  definite  propositions  of 
revision,  to  be  sent  down  by  the  Assembly  to  the  Presbyteries. 

4.  We  would  eliminate  from  Chapter  III.  and  Section  3  the  words 
"and  others  foreordained  to  everlasting  death  ;"  (2)  Would  eliminate 


FARGO    TO    FORT    WAYNE.  51 

the  whole  of  Section  4,  and  substitute  a  statement  of  God's  certain 
knowledge  of  the  number  of  his  people. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  6,  we  would  eliminate  the  last  sentence  begin- 
ning with  the  words,  "Neither  are  any  others  redeemed." 

Section  7,  eliminate  the  words,  "  For  the  glory  of  his  sovereign 
power  over  his  creatures  to  pass  by,  and."  Also  the  pronoun  "  them  " 
after  the  word  "  ordain." 

Section  8,  incorporate  a  statement  of  God's  love  in  the  gift  of  his 
Son,  corresponding  to  John  iii.  16,  with  a  declarative  expression  of 
the  truths  that  election  hinders  no  man's  salvation,  and  that  God  is 
not  willing  that  any  should  perish,  but  that  all  should  come  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  truth ;  or  make  a  separate  section  of  this.  Also, 
make  necessary  changes  in  the  numbers  of  the  sections. 

In  Chapter  IV.,  from  Section  1  eliminate  the  words  "of  nothing," 
and  also  the  words  "  In  the  space  of  six  days." 

Chapter  VI.,  Section  4,  let  the  words  "good"  and  "evil"  be 
strictly  denned,  or  change  the  form  of  expression. 

Also  make  a  corresponding  change  in  Section  2  going  before. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  2,  eliminate  the  words  "  who  is  altogether 
passive  therein,"  and  make  the  necessary  reconstruction  in  what 
follows. 

Section  3,  instead  of  the  first  statement,  "elect  infants  dying  in 
infancy,"  etc.,  substitute  "Infants  dying  in  infancy  are  regenerated 
and  saved,"  and  eliminate  the  word  "elect"  from  the  later  statement 
of  the  same  section. 

Section  4,  for  "  Not  professing  the  Christian  religion,"  etc.,  substi- 
tute "  who  reject  the  Christian  religion,"  etc. 

Chapter  XVI.,  modify  Section  7  as  respects  the  declared  sinfulness 
of  all  acts  good  in  themselves  done  by  unregenerate  men. 

In  Chapter  XXIV.,  Section  3,  eliminate  the  word  "other  "  before 
the  word  "idolaters." 

Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  for  "  but  is  that  Antichrist,"  etc.,  substi- 
tute these  words  and  no  more,  "  But  is  an  usurper  of  the  prerogatives 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

Finally,  we  are  not  oblivious  to  the  consideration  that  slight  verbal 
changes  in  other  places  might  be  found  needful  to  harmonize  the  whole 
with  those  proposed. 

Attest:  M.  M.  Lawson,  Stated  Clerk. 


52  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    FREEPORT. 


While  holding  with  loyal  devotion  to  the  system  of  truth  contained 
in  our  Standards,  we  believe  that  the  Confession  of  Faith  should  be 
so  revised  that  God's  love  and  the  universal  invitation  of  the  Gospel 
shall  have  proper  emphasis,  and  that  any  statement  of  doctrine  not 
based  upon  the  clear  teachings  of  Scripture  shall  be  eliminated. 

We  recommend  in  particular  as  follows  : 

Chapter  III.,  omit  the  last  clause  of  Section  3,  and  all  of  Sections 
4  and  7. 

Chapter  X.,  omit  Sections  3  and  4. 

Chapter  XXII.,  omit  last  clause  of  Section  3. 

Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  omit  all  after  the  words  "Jesus  Christ" 
in  the  first  clause. 

The  above  includes  all  changes  in  phraseology  which  these  changes 
may  make  necessary. 

Attest:  Thomas  A.  Robinson,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  GENEVA. 

The  Presbytery  here  assumes  that  it  is  not  called  upon  by  the  terms 
or  by  the  intent  of  this  question  to  formulate  a  revision  that  would  be 
acceptable  to  it.  Since  the  Presbytery  also  further  assumes  at  once 
that  the  work  of  so  preparing  the  changes,  if  the  Confession  is  to  be 
altered  or  amended,  will  be  entrusted  in  due  time  by  the  General 
Assembly  itself  to  a  committee  very  competent  to  the  task,  and  fairly 
representing  the  ascertained  desire  of  the  Church,  and  then  that 
revision  will  come  before  the  Presbyteries  in  the  constitutional  way, 
and  for  their  votes  upon  it.  And  yet,  too,  the  Presbytery  does  desire 
to  express  its  judgment  in  certain  and  very  important  respects,  and 
to  do  this  also  consistently  with  the  integrity  of  our  system  of  doctrine. 

The  reference  here  is  to  the  third  and  tenth  Chapters  of  the  Con- 
fession. Here  is  the  chief  ground  of  contention.  Presbytery  would 
advise  the  omission  or  else  urge  the  reconstruction  of  all  those  state- 
ments or  forms  of  statement  which  assert  or  imply  the  following  things  : 

1.  Reprobation  as  an  act  of  simple,  absolute,  divine  sovereignty  in 
a  prior  eternity,  whereby  a  part  of  mankind  were  "passed  by"  or 
excluded  from  the  chance  of  salvation,  being  "  foreordained  to  ever- 
lasting death."  The  respects  in  which  the  Confession  presents  this 
view  of  the  moral  government  of  God  might  very  well  be  omitted. 

2.  Related  to  the  subject  of  reprobation,  and  specifically  pre- 
sented in  the  Confession,  is  the  perdition  of  the  whole  heathen  world, 


FREEPORT    TO    GRAND    RAPIDS.  53 

» 

no  matter  how  diligent  men  may  be  to  live  up  to  the  best  attainable 
light.  This,  too,  should  be  omitted,  or  else  modified  into  a  very  dif- 
ferent statement. 

3.  Furthermore,  Presbytery  would  express  its  desire  that  the  com- 
mon inference  of  a  non-elect  class  of  infants,  dying  in  infancy, 
according  to  the  Confession,  be  removed  by  a  plain  statement,  which 

shall  relieve  the  Confession  of  that  burden,  and  shall  declare  what  is 

the  belief  of  the  Church  on  the  subject. 

We  plead  here  (a)  the  fact  that  such  an  inference  is  generally 
drawn  from  the  language  of  the  Confession,  and  so  the  Confession  is 
represented  to  teach  the  damnation  of  infants;  (b)  when  this  implica- 
tion is  denied,  there  is  the  hard  and  unsatisfactory  effort,  to  most  per- 
sons, at  least,  to  find  some  way  of  interpretation  out  of  the  difficulty; 
(/)  the  subject  is  so  serious  that  everything  equivocal  should  be  dis- 
placed by  a  distinct  statement  of  what  is  actually  believed. 

Referring  now  to  the  points  which  have  passed  under  notice,  to- 
wit :  reprobation,  the  destiny  of  the  heathen  world  and  destiny  of 
infants,  as  presented  in  the  Confession,  it  may  be  said  in  general 
apology,  that  it  is  very  questionable  whether  any  body  of  uninspired 
men  is  competent  to  formulate  in  absolute,  or  at  least  in  specific, 
metaphysical,  propositional  statement,  the  deepest  things  of  God 
from  eternity,  in  his  administration  over  angels  and  men  and  a  world 
of  heathen  souls,  and  a  world  of  infants,  and  then  to  put  all  this  into 
a  Confession  of  Faith,  to  be  used  in  the  work  which  the  Church  has 
to  do  in  the  world. 

4.  Presbytery  advises  that  the  statements  of  the  Confession  as  to 
the  Pope  and  the  Romish  Church  be  omitted  in  the  revision. 

5.  But  the  question  of  amending  the  Confession  in  certain  respects 
can  not  be  closed  by  Presbytery,  without  most  earnestly  expressing  its 
desire  for  the  insertion,  in  some  place  deemed  proper  for  the  addition, 
of  the  distinct  declaration,  that  the  salvation  revealed  in  the  Gospel  is 
offered  to  all  the  world,  and  that  these  offers  are  freely  and  fully  and 
sincerely  made  for  all,  through  the  love  of  God,  in  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord. 

Attest :  J-  Wilford  Jacks,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  GRAND  RAPIDS. 

That  the  integrity  of  the  Confession  of  Faith,  as  "  containing  the 
system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,"  should  above  all 
things  be  maintained. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  2,  omitted. 


54  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  3,  so  changed  that  it  shall  not  be  susceptible 
of  the  construction  that  God  has  created  any  beings  in  order  to 
destroy  them. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  4,  omitted. 

Chapter  VI.,  Section  4,  so  stated  as  to  modify  or  explain  the 
expression  of  the  disability  of  man  to  all  good. 

Chapter  VIII.,  Section  8,  to  be  so  changed  that  it  shall  not  limit 
the  atonement  made  by  Jesus  Christ  to  those  to  whom  it  is  certainly 
and  effectually  applied  and  communicated. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  so  stated  that  it  shall  not  contain  an  implica- 
tion that  any  dying  in  infancy  are  not  elect,  and  are  not  regenerated 
and  saved  by  Christ. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  to  be  so  changed  that  it  will  preclude  any 
interpretation,  which  will  make  it  teach  that  there  can  be  no  elect 
brethren  who  are  regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ  through  the  Spirit, 
and  who  endeavor  to  walk  in  penitence  and  humility  according  to  the 
measure  of  light  which  God  has  been  pleased  to  grant  them. 

Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  omitting  all  that  follows  the  first  state- 
ment. 

We  desire  also  that  in  its  appropriate  place  there  shall  be  inserted 
a  full  statement  of  God's  love  for  all  men,  and  of  the  sufficiency  and 
adaptation  of  the  atonement  made  by  Jesus  Christ  for  the  salvation  of 
all  men,  so  that  the  offers  of  salvation  may  be  freely  made  to  all  men, 
and  whosoever  will,  may  come  to  Christ  and  be  saved. 

Attest :  D.  A.  Jewell,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  GUNNISON. 

First  of  all,  it  is  the  desire  of  this  Presbytery  to  have  formulated  a 
briefer  and  simpler  statement  of  our  belief,  setting  forth  the  essential 
doctrines  of  redemption,  to  take  the  place  in  our  Church  of  the  pres- 
sent  Confession. 

In  the  event  that  the  Assembly  deem  the  adoption  of  such  a  creed 
inexpedient,  we  would  propose  the  following  answer  to  the  second 
question. 

1.  That  the  Confession  be  so  modified  as  to  more  fully  represent 
the  love  Of  God  for  all  mankind. 

2.  That  the  Confession  be  so  changed  that  the  free  moral  agency 
and  responsibility  of  all  men  shall  receive  due  recognition. 

3.  That  such  changes*  be  made  as  shall  simplify  the  .statement  of 
our  faith,  and  render  it  more  easy  of  comprehension. 

Attest:  Chas.  Fueller,  Stated  Clerk. 


GUNNISON    TO     HIGHLAND.  55 

THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HASTINGS. 

That  the  extent  to  which  Confessional  change  may  be  carried,  and 
the  particular  form  it  shall  take  before  submission  to  the  Presbyteries 
for  constitutional  ratification,  may  be  left  to  such  large  and  represen- 
tative committees  as  the  General  Assembly  shall  approve ;  but  we 
recommend  that  the  statements  of  the  Confession  in  regard  to  the  salva- 
tion of  infants  dying  in  infancy,  preterition  and  reprobation,  may 
express  more  perfectly  the  belief  of  the  Church,  and  afford 
less  just  ground  for  misunderstanding,  while  the  integrity  of  the  system 
of  doctrine  shall  be  preserved. 

Attest  :  A.  B.  Byram,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  HIGHLAND. 

The  Presbytery  of  Highland  is  opposed  to  any  change  in  the  Confes- 
sion of  Faith  that  will  essentially  impair  the  system  of  doctrine 
known  as  the  Calvinistic  System,  but  would  ask  to  have  removed 
from  the  Confession  some  extra-biblical  statements  ;  to  have  the  vari- 
ous truths  set  forth  in  the  Confession  emphasized  in  the  same  degree 
that  they  arc  in  God's  Word,  and  to  have  introduced  into  the  Con- 
fession more  of  the  warmth  and  glow  of  the  New  Testament  Scrip- 
tures.    To  this  end  the   following  changes  were  adopted. 

i.  Omit  last  clause  of  Section  3,  Chapter  III,  inasmuch  as  Repro- 
bation is  not  essential  to  the  Calvinistic  System,  not  being  found  in 
any  other  Reformed  Confession  now  in  use. 

2.  Omit  Section  4,  Chapter  III. 

3.  Omit  list  clause  Section  6,  Chapter  III. 

4.  Omit  Section  7,  Chapter  III. 

5.  Insert  as  a  separate  section  before  Section  8,  the  following : 
"God's  eternal  decrees  hinder  no  one  from  accepting  of  Christ,  as  he 
is  freely  offered  to  all  men  in  the  Gospel ;  nor  is  it  to  be  so  construed 
as  to  contradict  the  declarations  of  Scripture  that  Christ  is  the  pro- 
pitiation for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  and  that  God  is  not  willing 
that  any  should  perish,  but  would  have  all  come  to  repentance  and 
live." 

6.  So  modify  Sections  5  and  8,  Chapter  VIII. ,  that  they  will  declare 
in  accordance  with  the  Scriptures  that  Christ  is  the  Savior  of  all  men, 
especially  of  them  that  believe. 

7.  Change  Section  3,  Chapter  X.,  so  as  to  read  "All  infants  dying 
in  infancy,"  etc. 

8.  Insert  in  Section  4,  Chapter  X.,  the  words  "  not  accepting"  in 
place  of  "  not  professing." 


56  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

9.   Remove  from  Chapter  XI.  whatever  may  imply  that  Christ  died 
for  the  elect  only. 

10.  Instead  of  the  last  two  clauses  of  Chapter  XVI.,  beginning  with 
the  words  "They  are  therefore  sinful,"  substitute  the  following:  'They 
do  not  meet  the  requirements  of  the  divine  law,  and  hence  they  can 
not  be  pleaded  as  a  ground  of  acceptance  with  God." 

11.  In  Section  6,  Chapter  XXV.,  substitute  for  all  after  the  clause 
"  There  is  no  other  head  of  the  church  but  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ," 
the  following  :  "  And  for  any  man  or  body  of'men  to  claim  such  head- 
ship is  unscriptural  and  antichristian." 

12.  Insert  in  some  suitable  place  in  the  Confession  a  full  and  definite 
statement  of  God's  love  for  all  men,  the  free  offer  of  salvation  to  all, 
and  the  obligation  of  the  Church  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature. 

Attest:  Geo.  Hageman,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  HOLSTON. 

The  Presbytery  of  Holston  is  satisfied  with  the  doctrines  of  our 
venerable  Confession  of  Faith,  and  mainly  with  its  statements  of  those 
doctrines. 

They  also  regard  the  terms  of  subscription  to  that  Confession,  as 
tolerating  every  variety  of  opinion  consistent  with  its  scriptural  and 
Calvinistic  system  of  religious  truth. 

Yet,  in  the  interest  of  harmony  among  its  true  friends,  we  recom- 
mend the  following  reply  to  the  second  question,  u  In  what  respects, 
and  to  what  extent?" 

It  is  the  judgment  of  the  Presbytery  that  the  extent  to  which  the 
Confessional  change  shall  be  carried,  and  the  particular  form  it  shall 
take,  be  submitted  to  the  Presbyteries  for  constitutional  ratification, 
and  may  be  safely  left  to  such  large  and  representative  committee  as 
the  General  Assembly  may  appoint;  provided,  that  in  any  proposed 
change,  the  following  points  be  secured  : 

1 .  That  the  full  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrine  as  contained  in 
our  Confession  of  Faith  be  kept  inviolate. 

2.  That  those  forms  and  statements,  especially  in  Chapters  third 
and  tenth,  which  are  occasions  of  stumbling,  be  modified,  or  elimi- 
nated. 

3.  That  there  be  inserted,  in  suitable  places,  some  fuller  and 
clearer  expression  of  God's  love  to  all  men,  of  his  desire  that  all 
should  be  saved,  and  of  the  duty  of  the  Church  of  Christ  to  preach 
the  gospel  to  all  the  world. 

Attest:  J.  E.  Alexander,  Stated  Clerk. 


HOLSTON    TO    HURON.  57 

THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  HUDSON. 

The  Presbytery  is  satisfied  that  the  Church  is  not  prepared,  and 
never  will  be,  to  give  up  aught  of  her  Calvinism,  rightly  defined,  or 
abandon  any  of  her  scripturally  grounded  doctrines  of  faith. 

We  reply  as  follows  : 

i.  That  the  third  Chapter,  after  the  first  Section,  be  recast  so  as 
to  present : 

a.  In  addition  to  God's  sovereignty  in  election,  add  a  scriptural 
statement  of  the  love  of  God  for  all  mankind. 

b.  A  scriptural  statement  of  God's  abundant  provision  for  the  sal- 
vation of  all  men  in  the  atonement  of  his  Son,  and  his  sincere  offer 
of  mercy  and  grace  to  every  creature. 

c.  A  scriptural  statement  of  the  facts  of  human  responsibility  in 
the  choice  or  rejection  of  the  salvation  freely  offered  in  the  Gospel. 

2.  In  Chapter  X,  Section  i,  omit  the  words,  "  and  those  only." 

3.  In  Chapter  X,  Section  3,  omit  the  first  "elect"  and  read  "all 
infants." 

4.  In  Chapter  X,  Section  4,  substitute  for  the  portion  beginning 
';  much  less"  the  following:  "  Much  less  can  men  not  accepting  the 
Gospel  as  revealed  to  them  be  saved  in  any  other  way  whatsoever." 

5.  Substitute  for  the  word  "  damnation  "  wherever  it  occurs  words 
of  equivalent  meaning,  as  follows:  Chapter  XXXIII.,  Section  2, 
"endless  punishment";  Chapter  XXIX.,  Section  8,  "condemna- 
tion"; Chapter  XV. ,  Section  4,  "  everlasting  punishment  "  ;  Chapter 
XXIV.,  Section  3,  for  "  damnable  heresies  "  substitute  "destructive 
heresies";  Chapter  XX.,  Section  1,  for  "everlasting  damnation" 
substitute  "  everlasting  punishment." 

6.  In  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  omit  "but  is  that  Antichrist," 
etc.,  to  the  end  of  the  section. 

Attest :  David  F.  Bonner,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HURON. 

The  Presbytery  is  opposed  to  any  change  in  the  Confession  that 
will  impair  the  system  of  doctrine  known  as  the  Calvinistic  system. 
To  the  second  question  we  answer : 

Chapter  III  ,  Section  3,  omit  last  clause  after  the  word  "  life." 

Chapter  III.,  Section  4,  eliminate  the  whole  section. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  5,  insert  the  words  "  not  because  of"  in  place 
of  the  word  "without." 

Chapter  III.,  Section  6,  eliminate  the  last  sentence  beginning  with 
"  Neither." 


58  WSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

Chapter  III.,  insert  as  a  separate  section  to  precede  Section  8  the 
following  in  substance,  viz.:  "  God's  eternal  decree  hindereth  no  one 
from  accepting  Christ  as  he  is  freely  offered  to  us  in  the  Gospel,  nor 
ought  it  to  be  so  construed  as-  to  contradict  the  declaration  of  Scrip- 
ture that  Christ  is  the  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world, 
and  that  God  is  not  willing  that  any  should  perish,  but  that  all  should 
come  to  repentance." 

Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  drop  the  first  word. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  insert  the  word  "rejecting"  in  place  of 
"not  professing." 

Chapter  XXIV.,  Section  6,  change  to  read  "Yet  nothing  but 
adultery  or  such  willful  desertion  as  implies  it,  is  cause,"  etc. 

Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  amend  to  read,  '-The  only  head  of  the 
Church  is  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom,  without  any  earthly  vice- 
regent,  all  authority  in  heaven  and  earth  is  committed." 

Insert  in  some  suitable  place  in  die  Confession  a  full  and  definite 
statement  of  God's  love  for  all  men,  the  free  offer  of  salvation  to  all, 
and  the  obligation  of  the  Church  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  salvation  to 
all  the  world. 

Attest  :  Charles  E.  Barnes,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    IDAHO. 

We  deem  it  expedient  to  revise  Chapter  III.,  Sections  3,  4  and  7; 
Chapter  X.,  Section  3;   Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6. 

In  thus  expressing  our  views  on  the  revision  question,  the  Presby- 
tery of  Idaho  desires  emphatically  to  affirm  that  we  do  not  favor  any 
change  in  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  our  standards. 

Attest :  T.  M.  Gunn,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    INDIANAPOLIS. 

To  the  second  question  we  return  the  following  answer  : 
The  changes  which  we  desire  are  such  as  will  in  no  wise  impair  the 
integrity  of  our  system  of  doctrine,  but  will  preserve  it  from  misun- 
derstanding and  unmerited  criticism,  and  will  make  it  more  symmet- 
rical and  well  balanced  as  a  statement  of  the  truths  of  Scripture.  We 
would  suggest  briefly  the  following  as  being,  among  others,  desirable 
changes  : 

1.  That  Chapter  III.,  Sections  2-8  inclusive,  be  so  revised  that  the 
doctrines  there  set  forth    be  expressed  in  simpler  and  more  scriptural 


IDAHO    TO    IOWA.  59 

language,  thus  more  positively  to  emphasize  human  responsibility  and 
the  love  of  God  for  all  men,  as  manifested  in  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ,  provided  for  all,  and  to  be  preached  to  every  creature. 

2.  That  Chapter  X.  be  changed  so  that  it  shall  appear  to  teach,  as 
do  the  Scriptures,  that  God  is  calling  men  by  his  truth  and  Spirit  to  a 
saved  life;  that  those  who  willfully  reject  this  call  are  personally 
responsible  for  their  own  condemnation;  that  those  who  are  incapable 
of  being  outwardly  called  by  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  are  regenerated 
by  Christ,  through  the  Spirit,  who  worketh  when,  and  where,  and  how 
he  pleaseth,  and  that  it  shall  not  appear  to  teach  the  damnation  of 
all  those  who  have  never  had  the  privilege  of  hearing  and  knowing  the 
letter  of  the  Gospel. 

3.  That  Chapter  XXX.,  Section  2,  be  so  revised  that  the  "power 
of  the  keys  "  there  asserted  to  be  committed  to  the  ministry  according 
to  the  Scriptures,  be  plainly  set  forth  as  only  ministerial  and  declarative. 

These  recommendations  do  not  include  all  the  points  at  which  the 
Presbytery  desires  revision,  but  simply  indicate  the  general  spirit  and 
tone  of  such  revision  as  we  desire;  at  this  stage  of  procedure,  a 
minute  declaration  is  neither  necessary  nor  desirable.  The  many 
minor  changes  which  may  be  imperatively  demanded  in  order  to  a 
consistent  and  felicitous  statement  as  a  whole,  may  safely  be  left,  as 
they  must  be,  to  the  future  action  of  the  Church. 

We  further  recommend  the  preparation  of  a  short  and  simple  sup- 
plementary statement  of  our  doctrine,  that  shall  be  suitable  for  pop- 
ular use,  and  for  the  public  services  of  the  Church,  and  we  overture 
the  General  Assembly  to  appoint  a  committee  for  this  purpose. 

Attest:  John  W.  Pugh,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY   OF  IOWA. 

The  Presbytery  reaffirms  its  belief  in  the  system  of  doctrine  taught 
in  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith,  as  the  teaching  of  the  Word 
of  God,  and  stances  pledged  to  oppose  any  and  every  change  that 
would  in  the  least  degree  take  from  or  in  any  way  impair  any  part  of 
our  Calvinistic  system  of  doctrine.  At  the  same  time  this  Presby- 
tery believes  that  there  are  expressions  in  our  Confession  of  Faith 
open  to  misconstruction  by  the  enemies,  and  to  misunderstanding  by 
the  friends  and  lovers,  of  the  Calvinistic  system  of  doctrine;  and  that 
a  revision,  or  restatement  of  these  parts  of  the  Confession,  in  lan- 
guage clear  and  unmistakable,  would  remove  many  of  the  objections 
made  by  our  enemies;  and  at  the  same  time  strengthen  the  hands, 
and  establish  more  firmly  the  belief,  of  all  those  who  receive  the  Cal- 


60  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

vinistic  system  of  doctrine  as  that  which  is  taught  in  the  Word  of  God. 

The  second  question  of  the  overture  is  two-fold  :  First,  "  in  what 
respects?"  and  second,  "  to  what  extent?" 

As  to  the  first  part  of  the  question,  the  Presbytery  of  Iowa  uses 
the  term  "revision"  solely  and  only  with  reference  to  forms  of  state- 
ment in  the  Confession,  and  not  with  any  reference  to  system  of  doc- 
trine. 

As  to  the  extent  of  this  revision,  the  following  changes  are  suggested 
by  this  Presbytery  : 

i.  That  in  Chapter  III.,  Section  3,  the  phrase  "  for  their  sin"  be 
inserted  in  the  last  sentence,  so  that  the  last  part  of  Section  3  will 
read  :     "  and  others  foreordained  for  their  sin  to  everlasting  death." 

2.  Omit  Section  4,  Chapter  III.,  because  unnecessary, — the  doc- 
trine has  been  stated  in  Section  3. 

3.  Substitute  for  Section  7,  Chapter  III,  the  following:  "God's 
eternal  and  sovereign  decree  hindereth  no  man  from  accepting  Christ, 
as  he  is  offered  to  all  men  for  salvation  in  the  Gospel ;  nor  ought  it  to 
be  so  construed  as  to  contradict  the  declarations  of  Scripture,  "That 
Christ  is  the  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  and  that 
God  is  not  willing  that  any  should  perish,  but  that  all  should  come  to 
repentance." 

4.  Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  change  so  as  to  read  as  follows  :  "Infants 
dying  in  infancy,  also  others  who  are  incapable  of  being  outwardly 
called  by  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  are  of  the  elect,  regenerated  and 
saved  by  Christ,  through  the  Spirit,  who  worketh  when,  and  where, 
and  how  he  pleaseth. 

5.  Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  strike  out  the  phrase  "  not  elected." 

6.  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  strike  out  the  latter  part  of  the  sec- 
tion. It  will  then  read  :  "  There  is  no  other  head  of  the  church  but 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

Attest :  J.  C.  McClintock,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    IOWA    CITY. 

i.  We  desire  only  such  a  revision  as  that  by  which  the  full  integ- 
rity of  the  system  of  doctrine  now  contained  in  the  Confession  shall 
be  kept  inviolate. 

2.     We  favor  the  following  changes  : 

In  Chapter  III.,  omit  in  Section  3  all  after  the  word  "life."  Omit 
Section  4  entirely.  Omit  in  Section  6  the  last  sentence,  beginning 
with  the  word  "  neither."     Omit  all  of  Section  7. 


IOWA    CITY.  61 

In  Chapter  X.,  omit  in  Section  2,  after  the  word  "who,"  in  the 
third  line,  the  words  "  is  altogether  passive  therein,"  and  insert  instead 
the  words  "  is  enmity  thereto." 

Insert  new  section,  to  be  numbered  three,  and  to  read  thus  :  "  This 
effectual  call  is  to  be  distinguished  from,  yet  does  not  exclude  or 
antagonize,  but  consists  with  that  general  call  which  is  made  through 
the  Gospel,  and  which  has  its  justification  in  the  infinite  love  of  God 
for  the  world,  as  expressed  in  the  gift  of  his  beloved  Son  as  an  aton- 
ing sacrifice,  being  sufficient  for  all  men,  and  adapted  to  all,  and  taking 
every  legal  obstacle  out  of  the  way  of  all,  is  to  be  freely  offered  to 
all,  as  the  complete  and  most  gracious  divine  warrant  for  the  assur- 
ance, that  whosoever  believeth  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  shall  be 
saved.'' 

In  Section  3,  substitute  the  word  "all  "  for  the  word  "elect,"  before 
"  infants,"  and  insert  after  the  word  "infancy  "  the  words  "since  they 
are  of  the  elect." 

In  Section  4,  strike  out  all  of  the  section  after  the  word  "  saved,"  in 
the  fifth  line,  and  insert  in  lieu  thereof  the  words  :  "  Nor  can  any  who 
reject  the  Gospel,  or  who  have  never  heard  the  Gospel,  be  saved  on  the 
ground  of  their  good  works,  since  a  man  is  not  justified  by  the  works  of 
the  law,  but  by  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ ;  yet  this  is  not  to  be  understood 
as  denying  to  any  sinner  who  is  penitent  for  sin  and  devoutly  seeking 
after  God,  the  possibility  of  salvation  by  Christ  through  the  Spirit 
working  without  the  Word,  in  the  liberty  and  sovereignty  of  his 
regenerating  power." 

This  Presbytery  proposes  the  foregoing  amendments  to  Chapters 
III.  and  X.  tentatively  and  illustratively  as  to  the  language  suggested, 
but  we  feel  that  the  particular  verbal  form  which  such  amendments 
shall  take  before  submission  to  the  Church  for  constitutional  ratifica- 
tion, may  safely  be  left  to  such  a  large  and  representative  committee 
as  the  Assembly  may  approve. 

In  Chapter  XXIV.  omit  the  word  "other"  in  the  sixth  line  of  Sec- 
tion 3. 

In  Chapter  XXV*.,  after  Section  3  insert  a  new  section  on  missions. 
In  Section  6  omit  all  after  the  word  "thereof,"  and  insert  instead  the 
words,  "  but  in  that  he  proclaimeth  himself  so  to  be,  he  exalteth  him- 
self in  the  Church  against  Christ  and  all  that  is  called  God." 

3.  After  Chapter  VIII.,  and  parallel  thereto,  insert  a  new  chapter 
on  the  work  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

4.  It  is  the  judgment  of  this  Presbytery  that  revision  should  at  this 
time  be  confined  to  those  portions  of  the  Confession  we  have  herein 


62  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

named,  to  wit:   Chapters  III.,  X.,   XXIV.,  XXV.,  and  the  addition 
with  respect  to  the  work  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Attest :  George  B.  Smith,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    JERSEY    CITY. 

We  desire  : 

i.  That  the  system  of  doctrine  as  contained  in  the  Confession  of 
Faith  be  preserved  in  its  full  integrity. 

2.  That  the  Confession  be  made  to  contain  a  definite  and  full 
expression  of  the  love  of  God  for  all  mankind,  and  of  the  salvation  in 
Jesus  Christ  provided  for  all,  and  to  be  preached  to  every  creature. 

3.  That  certain  forms  of  statement,  particularly  in  the  third  and 
tenth  Chapters,  which  convey,  or  are  understood  by  many  to  convey, 
erroneous  and  unscriptural  implications,  be  changed  or  stricken  out. 

We  prefer,  however,  that  the  extent  and  definite  form  of  these 
changes,  to  be  submitted  to  the  Presbyteries  for  constitutional  ratifi- 
cation, shall  be  left  to  the  wisdom  of  such  large  and  representative 
committee  as  the  General  Assembly  shall  appoint. 

Attest:  Edwin  A.  Bulkley,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF   KALAMAZOO. 

It  is  the  judgment  of  the  Presbytery  that  the  extent  to  which  the 
Confessional  change  shall  be  carried,  and  the  particular  form  it  shall 
take,  be  submitted  to  the  Presbyteries  for  constitutional  ratification  ; 
and  may  be  safely  left  to  such  large  and  representative  committee  as 
the  General  Assembly  shall  appoint ;  it  being  provided  that  in  any 
proposed  change,  at  least  the  following  points  be  secured: 

1.  That  the  full  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrine  as  contained  in 
our  Confession  of  Faith  be  kept  inviolate. 

2.  That  the  forms  and  statements,  especially  in  the  third  and  tenth 
Chapters,  which  convey,  or  seem  to  convey,  erroneous  and  unscrip- 
tural implications,  and  which  are  occasions  of  stumbling,  be  modified 
or  eliminated. 

3.  That  God's  love  for  the  world,  and  his  command  to  preach  the 
Gospel  to  every  creature,  be  given  fuller  and  more  definite  expression. 

Attest :  Joseph  A.  Ranney,  Stated  Clerk. 


JERSEY    CITY    TO    LACKAWANNA.  63 

PRESBYTERY  OF  KEARNEY. 

i.  We  disclaim  any  desire  to  make  any  change  which  will  in  any 
way  impair  the  integrity  of  the  Calvinistic  system,  but  that  such 
changes  be  made  in  the  Confession  of  Faith  as  shall  make  clearer  to 
the  understanding  of  the  members  of  our  churches,  the  system  of  doc- 
trine taught  by  our  Church. 

2.  We  also  suggest  that  there  be  prepared,  for  popular  use  in  our 
churches,  a  short  compendium  of  the  teachings  of  "The  Confession'' 
which  shall  in  no  wise  supersede  the  Confession  of  Faith. 

Attest:  J.  H.  Reynard,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    KNOX. 

Resolved,  That  we  desire  a  revision,  or  elimination  of  Sections  3 
and  4,  of  Chapter  III.,  and  Section  3,  of  Chapter  X. 

Presbytery  would  prefer  to  leave  the  Confession  as  it  is,  if  a  creed 
could  be  formulated  that  would  be  acceptable  to  all  parts  of  the 
Church,  as  a  bond  of  fellowship,  which  all  ministers,  officers  and 
members  could  cordially  subscribe. 

Attest:  J.  T.  H.  Waite,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    LACKAWANNA. 

i.  While  confiding  in  the  conservative  judgment  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  they  insist  that  the  full  integrity  of  the  system  of  doc- 
trine contained  in  our  Confession  of  Faith  be  preserved  absolutely 
inviolate. 

2.  They  desire,  that  those  forms  of  statement,  especially  in  the 
third  and  tenth  Chapters,  which  seem  to  many  to  convey  erroneous  or 
unscriptural  implications,  and  which  are  occasions  of  stumbling,  be 
modified  or  eliminated. 

3.  They  ask,  that  there  be  added  to  the  Confession  of  Faith,  a 
fuller  and  more  definite  expression  of  God's  love,  and  of  Christ's 
death  for  the  whole  world,  and  of  the  commission  given  by  Christ  to 
his  Church  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature. 

Attest :  P.  H.  Brooks,  Stated  Clerk. 


64  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  LAHORE. 

i.  The  full  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrine  contained  in  the 
Confession  of  Faith  should  be  kept  inviolate. 

2.  Those  forms  of  statement,  especially  in  the  third  and  tenth 
Chapters,  which  seem  to  some  to  convey  uuscriptural  implications, 
and  which  are  occasions  of  stumbling,  should  be  modified  or  eliminated. 

3.  God's  love  for  the  world,  and  his  command  to  preach  the  Gos- 
pel to  every  creature,  should  be  more  fully  and  definitely  expressed. 

4.  The  latter  part  of  the  sixth  Section  of  Chapter  XXV.,  which 
declares  that  the  Pope  is  the  Antichrist  and  man  of  sin,  should  be 
omitted. 

Attest:  Kali  Chun  Chatterjee,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 

While  we  could  wish  that  the  Confession  had  more  of  the  spirit 
and  tone  of  the  New  Testament,  as  well  as  be  wholly  in  accord  with 
the  entire  Bible  in  its  teachings,  we  would  suggest  that  as  few  changes 
be  made  as  possible,  consistent  with  the  removal  of  stumbling-blocks. 
In  our  judgment  these  are  confined  to  four  points,  viz.:  Reprobation, 
the  damnation  of  infants,  the  damnation  of  the  heathen  world,  and 
the  assertion  that  the  Pope  of  Rome  is  the  Antichrist. 

Attest:  C.  D.  Jacobs,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    LANSING. 

We  insist  that  no  method  of  revision  shall  be  adopted  that  would 
impair  the  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrine  contained  in  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith. 

We  desire  a  revision  in  the  interests  of  greater  clearness  and  sim- 
plicity in  the  Confession ;  so  that  those  statements  of  doctrine,  as,  for 
example,  certain  statements  in  Chapters  III.  and  X.,  now  often  mis- 
understood, misconstrued,  and  which  are  occasions  of  stumbling,  may 
be  modified,  or  eliminated,  or  relieved  from  all  ambiguity. 

We  desire  a  fuller  expression  in  the  Confession  of  the  love  of  God 
for  all  sinners,  of  his  desire  that  all  should  be  saved,  and  of  his  offer 
of  salvation  to  all  mankind. 

We  believe  that  it  will  be  wise  and  safe  to  commit  the  whole  sub- 
ject of  revision  to  a  committee  of  the  General  Assembly,  composed  of  its 
most  learned,  discreet  and  devoted  members,  with  instructions  to  com- 
pare the  statements  of  the  Confession  with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and, 


LAHORE    TO    LEHIGH.  65 

seeking  the  promised  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  eliminate  from  the 
Confession  anything  not  either  clearly  taught  in  the  Word,  or  fairly 
deducible  therefrom;  and  to  make  such  additions  to  the  Confession  from 
the  Word- as  shall  give  to  our  Standards  Bible  symmetry  and  propor- 
tions of  truth. 

Attest :  C.  P.  Quick,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    LARNED. 

Chapter  III.,  Sections  3,  4  and  7,  modify  and  add  to,  so  that  all  men 
may  know  that  there  is  a  divine  breadth  to  the  divine  declaration  that 
"God  so  loved  the  world,"  etc.     John  iii.  16. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  omit  the  word  "elect"  from  the  well-known 
phrase  "elect  infants." 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  change  the  phraseology  so  as  to  do  away 
with  the  ambiguity  involved  in  its  grammatical  structure. 

Presbytery  requests  the  Assembly  to  take  the  regular  constitutional 
steps  to  secure  the  revision  as  above  indicated. 

Attest:  B.  F.  Powelson,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  LEHIGH. 

That  while  we  express  our  unshaken  loyalty  to  the  Pauline  system 
of  doctrine  as  embodied  in  our  Confession  of  Faith,  we  nevertheless 
think  that  a  revision  of  certain  chapters  and  sections  is  desirable  to 
prevent  their  misinterpretation,  viz., 

Chapter  III  to  be  recast  so  as  to  include  : 

1.  The  sovereignty  of  God  in  election. 

2.  The  general  love  of  God  in  Christ  for  all  mankind. 

3.  The  salvation  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  provided  for  all  and  to 
be  preached  to  every  creature. 

Chapter  X,  Section  3.  Such  revision  as  shall  prevent  its  appear- 
ing to  teach  that  some  children  dying  in  infancy  may  be  lost. 

Chapter  X,  Section  4.  Such  a  revision  as  shall  preclude  it  from 
teaching  that  it  is  impossible  that  any  heathen  may  be  saved  by 
Christ  through  the  Spirit,  though  they  may  not  have  the  revealed 
Word. 

Chapter  XVI,  Section  7.  A  recasting  of  this  section  so  that  it 
shall  not  appear  to  teach  that  every  act  of  unregenerate  men  is  in 
itself  sinful. 


60  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

Chapter  XXIV,  Section  3.     Recast  so  as  to  prevent  the  indiscrimi- 
nate designation  of  all  papists  as  idolaters. 

Chapter  XXV,   Section  6.     To  be  recast  so  as  to  include  all  who 
usurp  the  prerogatives  and  functions  of  Christ  in  his  own  House. 

Attest :  A.  M.  Woods,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  LIMA. 

We  desire  the  revision  to  be  limited. 

1.  To  certain  forms  of  expression  that  seem  liable  to  misapprehen- 
sion. 

2.  To  the  elimination  of  some  phrases  and  sentences  which  seem 
unnecessary  to  the  true  meaning  of  the  chapters  and  sections  to 
which  they  belong. 

3.  To  the  introduction  in  a  suitable  connection  of  a  statement  of 
the  fullness  of  the  love  of  God  in  Christ,  and  of  the  full  and  free 
offer  of  the  Gospel  to  all. 

4.  That  the  revision  shall  not  in  any  particular  change  or  modify 
the  system  of  doctrine  known  as  Calvin istic,  and  now  embraced  in  the 
Standards  of  our  Church,  and  to  which  we  adhere  with  unabated  loy- 
alty, as  the  system  of  doctrine  that  has  long  been  a  bond  of  union, 
and  a  tower  of  strength  to  our  beloved  Church  {vote  unanimous).  The 
remaining  part  of  the  report,  consisting  of  suggestions  as  to  the  form 
of  particular  changes  in  the  language  of  the  Confession,  eliminations 
and  additions,  intended  to  make  the  general  answer  more  specific, 
was  laid  upon  the  table,  and  to  be  kept  on  file  for  any  future  use  the 
Presbytery  may  choose  to  make  of  them. 

Attest :  R.  H.  Hollyday,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTEKY  OF  LOGANSPORT. 

I.  That  this  Presbytery  is  a  unit  in  its  cordial  acceptance  of  and 
adherence  to  the  system  of  doctrine  contained  in  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  and  is  wholly  adverse  to  any  change  which  would  be  justly 
regarded  as  surrendering  or  compromising  any  of  the  essential  doc- 
trines contained  in  our  Standards. 

II.  That  while  the  truth  itself,  revealed  in  the  Word  of  God  and 
formulated  doctrinally,  in  creed  or  confession,  abideth,  like  its  Author, 
"the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  forever,"  nevertheless  the  intel- 
lectual apprehension  of  the  truth,  and  the  method  of  setting  it  forth 


LIMA    TO    LOGANSPORT.  67 

in  terms,  are  subject  to  change  in  the  lapse  of  time,  as  the  continued 
searching  of  the  Scripture  presents  familiar  truths  in  clearer  light. 
Hence  it  has  come  to  pass,  in  the  judgment  of  this  Presbytery,  that 
the  form  of  doctrinal  statement  in  our  Confession  appears  in  a  few 
instances  needlessly  severe,  narrow,  and  repelling,  and  in  one  or  two 
instances  at  least,  to  some  minds,  seems  to  lack  the  clear  warrant  of 
Scripture,  the  effect  being  to  burden  the  minds  of  not  a  few  in  our 
Church— ministers  and  laymen — with  a  sense  of  bondage. 

III.  We  declare  further  in  our  answer  to  the  second  question  of  the 
Assembly's  overture,  that  this  Presbytery  does  not  undertake  to 
revise  the  Confession  or  any  part  thereof.  For  the  accomplishment 
of  this  work  we  look  to  the  wisdom  of  the  whole  Church  as  repre- 
sented in  the  General  Assembly,  or  such  committee  or  commission  as 
it  may  appoint  for  the  purpose. 

IV.  While  we  thus  decline,  as  a  Presbytery,  at  this  time,  to  under- 
take the  specific  work  of  revision,  yet  we  desire  to  name  the  following 
parts  of  the  Confession,  and  principles  which  will  illustrate  the  spirit 
and  manner  of  the  revision  which  we  desire  : 

i.  We  desire  that  Chapter  III.,  after  Section  r,  be  so  recast  as  to 
include  these  things  only  :  the  sovereignty  of  God  in  election  ;  the 
general  love  of  God  for  all  mankind ;  the  salvation  in  Christ  Jesus 
provided  for  all  and  to  be  preached  to  every  creature. 

2.  We  desire  that  Chapter  X.  be  so  revised  as  not  to  appear  to 
discriminate  concerning  "infants  dying  in  infancy";  and  so  as  to 
preclude  that  explanation  of  Section  4  which  makes  it  teach  the  dam- 
nation of  all  the  heathen,  or  makes  it  deny  that  there  are  any  elect 
heathen  who  are  regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ  through  the  Spirit, 
and  who  endeavor  to  walk  in  penitence  and  humility,  according  to 
the  measure  of  light  which  God  has  been  pleased  to  grant  them. 

3.  We  suggest  that  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6 ;  Chapter  XXIV., 
Section  3,  and  Chapter  XXII.,  Section  7,  so  far  as  they  have  refer- 
ence to  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  are  not  sustained  by  Scripture, 
and  are  out  of  place  in  the  symbol  of  the  Church's  faith. 

4.  We  hereby  overture  the  General  Assembly  to  raise  a  large  and 
representative  committee  or  commission,  taken  from  the  Church  at 
large,  to  which  shall  be  entrusted,  (cz)  the  work  of  revising  the  present 
Confession  under  such  instructions  as  the  Assembly  may  impose. 
(b)  The  work  of  preparing  a  short  and  simple  statement  containing  the 
essential  and  necessary  articles  of  the  Westminster  Confession.  In 
making  this  last  request  we  desire  expressly  to  state  that  it  is  our  wish 
and  purpose  to  have  the  Westminster  Confession,  after  the  proposed 


68  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

revision,  hold  precisely  the  same  position  and  use  in  the  O.urch  which 
it  now  has ;  but  in  addition  to  this  we  desire  a  simpler  and  briefer 
statement  of  our  faith  for  such  use  as  pastors  often  require,  in  dealing 
with  members  of  the  church  and  congregation. 

Attest :  Wiley  K.  Wright,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  LOS  ANGELES. 

Resolved,  That  we  desire  no  revision  which  would  impair  the  integ- 
rity or  weaken  the  force  of  the  Calvinistic  system  of  doctrine  con- 
tained in  our  Confession  of  Faith. 

Resolved,  That  we  especially  desire  such  modification  of  statement  in 
the  third  and  tenth  Chapters  of  the  Confession  as  shall  remove  ground 
for  misrepresentation  on  the  part  of  those  who  oppose  our  doctrines, 
and  furnish  occasion  of  stumbling  from  those  who  are  friendly  to  us, 
and  shall  set  forth  more  conspicuously  the  infinite  compassion  of  God 
for  our  fallen  race  in  his  most  glorious  decrees  respecting  the  plan  of 
salvation  revealed  to  us  in  the  Gospel. 

Resolved,  That  we  are  not  averse  to  any  such  changes  in  other  parts 
of  the  Confession  as  may,  in  the  wisdom  of  the  Assembly,  be  deemed 
necessary  or  appropriate  to  give  larger  and  fuller  expression  to  the 
brotherly  love  cherished  by  our  Church  toward  other  denominations 
of  Christians,  or  the  grand  missionary  spirit  which  is  moving  her  to 
large  gifts  and  untiring  labors  for  the  evangelization  of  the  world. 
Attest:  P.  D.  Young,  Acting  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    LOUISVILLE. 

i.  We  desire  revision  only  so  far  as  it  shall  relieve  the  Confession 
of  ambiguous  and  mis'eading  statements,  and  so  far  as  it  shall  tend  to 
a  clearer,  stronger  and  more  consistent  expression  of  the  Calvinistic 
system  of  doctrine  which  it  contains. 

2.  Were  we  to  specify,  we  would  mention  at  least  three  particu- 
lars: 

{a)  Such  a  restatement  of  the  third  Chapter  as  shall  more  fully 
express  the  love  of  God  for  all  mankind. 

(b)  Such  a  modification  of  Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  as  will  make  it 
express  the  belief  of  the  Church  in  regard  to  the  salvation  of  infants. 


LOS    ANGELES    TO    MAHONING.  69 

(V)  The  omission  of  all  such  polemic  statements  in  regard  to  Roman 
Catholics  and  the  Pope  of  Rome,  as  are  found  in  Section  7  of  Chap- 
ter XXII.,  and  in  Section  3  of  Chapter  XXIV.,  and  in  Section  6  of 
Chapter  XXV. 

Attest:  J.  R.  Collier,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    LYONS. 

The  Presbytery  recommends  that  the  Westminster  Shorter  Cate- 
chism be  adopted  for  a  Confession,  with  a  few  changes  and  omitting 
the  questions. 

In  case  this  Confession  can  not  be  adopted,  this  Presbytery  desires 
the  Westminster  Confession  revised  as  follows  : 

Chapter  III.,  omit  all  that  refers  to  reprobation  or  pretention. 

Chapter  X.,  omit  the  reference  to  elect  infants,  and  let  that  to  the 
heathen  be  in  harmony  with  the  Scripture  statement,  "That  God  is  no 
respecter  of  persons,  but  in  every  nation  he  that  feareth  him  and 
worketh  righteousness  is  accepted  with  him." 

Attest:  Henry  M.  Clark,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    MAHONING. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  3.  Change  so  as  to  state  that  God's  connec- 
tion with  the  ruin  of  men  is  that  of  a  permissive  decree. 

Chapter  III.,  Sections  4  and  7.     Omit.     In  their  place,  this  : 

' '  God's  eternal  decree  hindereth  no  one  from  accepting  Christ,  as  he 
is  freely  offered  to  us  in  the  Gospel,  nor  ought  it  to  be  so  construed 
as  to  contradict  the  Scripture  declaration  that  Christ  is  the  propitiation 
for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  and  that  God  is  not  willing  that  any 
should  perish,  but  that  all  should  come  to  repentance." 

Chapter  X.,  Section  3.    Omit  the  word  "elect "  wherever  it  occurs. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4.     Omit. 

Chapter  XVI.,  Section  7.     Omit. 

Chapter  XXIV.,  Section  3.     Omit  the  words  "papists  or  other." 

Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6.     Omit  all  after  first  sentence. 

Add  a  new  chapter  on  the  Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  Mission  of 
the  Church. 

Attest  :  E.  D.  Vance,  Stated  Clerk. 


70  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

PRESBYTERY    OF    MANKATO. 

We  do  not  favor  a  revision  which  will  in  the  least  particular  impair 
the  integrity  of  the  Calvinistic  system.  We  desire  only  a  revision 
which  is  reasonable,  scriptural,  conservative  and  safe.  In  accordance 
with  this,  we  desire  the  reference  of  this  matter, — in  case  revision  is 
undertaken, — to  a  large  and  representative  committee,  who  shall  sub- 
mit a  revision  of  the  Confession  better  adapted  to  the  uses  of  the 
Church. 

Attest:  S.  W.  LaGrange,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    MARION. 

It  is  the  judgment  of  the  Marion  Presbytery  that  the  extent  to 
which  the  Confessional  change  should  be  carried,  and  the  particular 
form  it  shall  take  before  submission  to  the  Presbyteries  for  constitu- 
tional ratification,  may  safely  be  left  to  such  large  and  representative 
committee  as  the  General  Assembly  may  appoint,  it  being  provided 
that  in  any  proposed  changes  the  following  points  be  secured  : 

i.  That  the  full  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrine  as  contained  in 
our  Confession  of  Faith  be  kept  inviolate. 

2.  It  is  desirable  that  changes  should  be  made  in  those  parts  of  the 
Confession  which  relate  to  pretention,  reprobation,  elect  infants,  and 
to  those  who  have  not  heard  or  are  unable  to  understand  the  Gospel, 
and  that  Section  7,  Chapter  XVI.,  and  Section  2,  Chapter  XXX.,  be 
restated. 

3.  We  also  suggest  the  propriety  of  making  a  full  and  definite  state- 
ment of  the  love  of  God  to  all  men,  and  the  free  offer  of  the  Gospel 
to  all. 

Attest :  W.  S.  Eagleson,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    MATTOON. 

i.  We  would  not  abate  one  jot  or  tittle  of  the  system  of  doctrine 
therein  contained;  we  hereby  reaffirm  our  belief  in.,  and  re-express 
our  admiration  for,  that  interpretation  of  Scripture  commonly  known 
as  Augustinian  or  Calvinistic. 

2.  We  favor  such  an  abridged  Confession  as  would  admit  of  more 
frequent  popular  perusal  (if  not  of  use  in  public  teaching  and  wor- 
ship), while  it  should  not  omit  any  vital  doctrine,  and  should  observe 
a  greater  symmetry  and  more  scriptural  proportion  in  their  statement. 


MANKATO    TO    MAUMEE.  71 

3.  If  this  may  not  be  had,  then  such  a  revision  of  the  Standards  as 
will  remove  as  far  as  possible  ambiguity  ;  will  lop  off  all  excrescences, 
if  any  there  be,  and  will  exalt  to  their  proper  place  the  leading  facts 
of  revelation.     Suffice  it  to  suggest: 

1.  That  the  redeeming  love  of  God,  sufficient  for  the  salvation  of 
repenting  sinners,  is  a  prominent  fact  of  Scripture  side  by  side  with 
his  glorious  justice,  and  should  be  accorded  greater  comparative 
prominence  in  a  standard  of  faith. 

2.  That  the  actual  belief  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  with  regard 
to  the  salvation  of  infants  dying  in  infancy  and  of  others  incapable  of 
intelligent  faith,  should  be  either  stated  with  clearness  and  precision, 
or  all  reference  to  it  be  omitted. 

3.  That  redeeming  traits  in  the  characters  of  men  otherwise  wicked 
and  impenitent,  while  not  sufficient  to  save  them,  are  worthy  of  due 
recognition  and  grateful  appreciation  as  evidence  of  that  common 
grace  whereby  God  has  visited  all  and  saved  from  utter  blight  a  sin- 
cursed  world. 

4.  That  designation  of  the  Pope  of  Rome  as  the  Antichrist  of 
prophecy,  while  plausible,  is  unwarranted  and  unnecessary  in  a  Con- 
fession of  Faith. 

5.  That  the  essential  doctrine  of  the  decrees  of  God  is  sufficiently 
stated  in  the  language  of  Holy  Writ  without  attempt  at  elucidation 
or  limitation.  Objectors  and  gainsayers  must  then  beware  lest  haply 
they  be  found  to  fighl  against  God. 

6.  Finally,  we  would  suggest  that  the  great  commission  given  by 
our  Lord  to  evangelize  the  world,  well  deserves  a  place  in  a  Confession 
of  Faith,  as  it  is  fast  finding  it  in  the  hearts  of  the  people. 

Attest :  J.  A.  Piper,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    MAUMEE. 

i.  We  desire  that  the  third  Chapter  shill  be  so  modified  as  to 
include  only  the  sovereignty  of  God  in  election ;  the  general  love  of 
God  for  the  human  race,  and  the  fullness  of  the  salvation  through 
Christ  for  all  mankind;  that  the  word  "elect"  in  the  tenth  Chapter, 
Section  3,  before  infants,  be  omitted,  and  that  Section  4  be  so  altered 
that  it  shall  not  deny  the  possibility  of  the  salvation  of  any  heathen 
who  may  follow  the  light  of  nature  in  faith. 

2.  That  the  reference  to  the  Pope  of  Rome  in  Chapter  XXV.,  Sec- 
tion 6,  be  omitted. 

Attest :  B.  W.  Slagle,  Stated  Clerk. 


72  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    THE    CITY    OF    MEXICO. 

The  Presbytery  has  such  confidence  in  the  General  Assembly,  and 
in  any  committee  it  would  nominate,  that  we  do  not  hesitate  to  leave 
to  its  discretion  the  determination  of  the  necessary  changes.  We 
wish  merely  to  express  our  desire  that  nothing  be  done  to  modify  our 
system  of  doctrine,  known  as  Calvinistic,  Augustinian  or  Pauline. 
Attest:  Hubert  W.  Brown,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    MILWAUKEE. 

That  it  is  the  judgment  of  this  Presbytery  that  the  extent  to  which 
Confessional  change  shall  be  carried,  and  the  particular  form  it  shall 
take  before  submission  to  the  Presbyteries  for  constitutional  ratifica- 
tion, may  safely  be  left  to  such  large  and  representative  committee 
as  the  General  Assembly  shall  appoint,  it  being  provided  that  in  any 
proposed  change  at  least  the  three  following  points  shall  be  reached  : 

i.  That  the  full  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrine  as  contained  in 
the  Confession  of  Faith  shall  be  kept  inviolate. 

2.  That  those  forms  of  statement,  especially  in  the  third  and  tenth 
Chapters,  which  convey,  or  seem  to  convey,  erroneous  or  unscrip- 
tural  implications,  and  which  are  occasions  of  stumbling,  be  modified 
or  eliminated. 

3.  That  God's  love  for  the  world  and  his  commission  to  preach 
the  Gospel  to  every  creature,  be  given  fuller  and  more  definite  expres- 
sion. 

Attest :  S.  W.  Chidester,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    MONROE. 

1.  [Yes,]  provided,  the  changes  introduced  are  not  such  as  to  affect 
the  system  of  doctrine  to  which  we  as  a  denomination  have  always 
held. 

2.  To  the  second  question  we  reply:  Strike  out  of  Chapter  III., 
Section  4,  which  only  reiterates  and  reflects  a  needless  emphasis  on 
Section  3,  immediately  preceding.  Strike  out  also  Section  7,  of 
Chapter  III,  which  is  no  more  than  an  amplification  of  the  closing 
statement  of  Section  6,  immediately  before  it.  That  God  passes  by 
all  but  the  elect,  and  leaves  them  to  their  sins,  is  plainly  stated  in  Sec- 
tion 6.  This  is  enough,  in  our  opinion,  of  a  very  painful  subject.  We 
do  not  believe  in  saying  that  God  was  pleased  to  ordain  any  of  his 
creatures  to  dishonor  or  wrath,  even  for  their  sins.  We  can  not  but 
believe  he  did  it  with  infinite  reluctance.    The  expression,  "  God  was 


CITY    OK    MEXICO    TO    MONROE.  73 

pleased  to  pass  by  and  punish,"  has  to  our  ears  an  unpleasant  sound. 
The  omission  of  the  sections  named  does  not  weaken  the  teaching  of 
the  Confession  on  the  doctrine  of  election,  neither  does  it  expunge 
its  testimony  on  the  subject  of  reprobation.  For  Section  3  of  this 
same  chapter  gives  both  sides  of  the  doctiine  of  election.  It  says 
God  predestinates  some  to  life  and  ordains  some  to  death.  But  we 
would  like  to  have  this  section  revised  so  that  the  last  clause  will 
read,  "And  others,  in  his  infinite  wisdom,  goodness  and  truth,  are 
passed  by,  to  suffer  the  just  consequences  of  their  sins,  even  everlast- 
ing death."  Passing  now  to  Chapter  X.,  Section  2,  we  would  revise 
by  leaving  out  the  words  "  Who  is  altogether  passive  therein  until," 
and  by  introducing  the  word  "who"  before  the  words  "being  quick- 
ened." Section  3,  of  Chapter  X. :  From  this  section  we  would  simply 
leave  out  the  word  "elect,"  leaving  it  to  stand  in  all  other  respects 
as  it  is.  Section  4,  of  this  Chapter  X.,  we  would  expunge,  as  not 
being  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel.  A  heathen  may 
possess  a  spirit  which  is  acceptable  to  God,  though  we  have  reason 
to  believe  that  very  few  have  ever  possessed  such  a  spirit  in  the  lands 
whither  the  truth  of  God  has  not  gone.  In  Chapter  XXV.,  Section 
6,  we  would  like  to  have  the  last  sentence,  relating  to  the  Pope  of 
Rome,  stricken  out.  The  Roman  pontiff  may  be  the  man  of  sin  and 
son  of  perdition,  but  that  he  is,  is  only  an  inference  from  certain  pas- 
sages of  Scripture,  not  a  positive  declaration.  It  is  wrong  to  bind  the 
faith  of  the  Church  to  that  which  can  not  be  proved  to  be  a  positive 
teaching  of  Holy  Writ.  Besides,  a  creed  or  a  confession  is  a  place  for 
doctrine,  but  it  is  no  place  for  expressions  in  regard  to  the  justice  of 
Papal  or  any  other  claims.  We  all  believe  the  Papal  system  to  be 
at  variance  with  the  Gospel,  and  the  Papal  Church  in  doctrine  and 
practice  to  be  exceedingly  corrupt.  But  this  is  no  part  of  our  system 
of  theology,  and  we  object  to  being  made  to  subscribe  to  it  as  if  it 
were.  Finally,  we  would  revise,  by  the  addition  of  a  section  in  some 
suitable  place  in  the  Confession  making  mention  of  the  warm-hearted 
love  of  God  for  men,  as  men  and  as  the  creatures  of  his  hand;  of 
his  yearning  desire  to  save  them  all  through  Christ,  and  of  the  fact, 
that  if  all  men  would  but  repent  of  their  sins  and  believe  in  him  whom 
God  has  sent,  they  would  all  be  saved.  We  would  have  connected 
with  this  an  emphatic  statement  concerning  the  duty  of  the  Church 
to  obey  the  command  of  her  ascending  Lord,  to  go  unto  all  the  world 
and  disciple  all  nations,  and  concerning  the  sin  of  letting  so  many 
perish  in  their  ignorance,  when,  if  we  did  our  duty,  they  would  many 
of  them  undoubtedly  be  saved. 

Attest:  H.  P.  Collin,  Stated  Clerk. 


74  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  MONTANA 

i.  We  should  like  to  see  the  following  portions  eliminated  from  the 
Confession  of  Faith:  Chapter  III.,  Section  4;  in  Chapter  X.,  Section 
3,  the  word  "  elect"  before  the  word  "infants,"  and  in  Section  4,  all 
following  and  including  the  words  "much  less;"  in  Chapter  XXV., 
Section  6,  all  following  and  including  the  words  "but  is  that  Anti- 
christ," etc. 

2.  That  Chapter  III.,  Section  7,  be  modified  so  as  to  teach  that 
God  condemns  men  to  eternal  death  on  account  of  their  own  sins. 

3.  We  should  like  to  see  the  language  of  the  Confession  made  more 
exactly  to  correspond  with  the  actual  words  of  Scripture. 

4.  We  should  like  to  see  articles  added  to  the  Confession,  of  the 
following  import :  (a)  An  article  setting  forth  the  love  of  God  to  all 
men,  even  to  the  unbelieving  and  the  rebellious;  (£)  an  article  recog- 
nizing the  Church's  duty  to  evangelize  the  whole  world. 

Attest:  George  Edwards,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  MORRIS  AND  ORANGE. 

Instead  of  a  revision  of  the  text  of  the  present  Confession,  the 
Presbytery  expresses  its  preference  for  a  new  and  shorter  Confession 
of  Faith,  containing  only  the  essential  doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian 
system  of  faith,  and  to  which  a  harmonious  subscription  could  be 
expected. 

If,  however,  a  more  specific  answer  is  required,  while  the  Presby- 
tery does  not  believe  that  there  is  any  desire  in  the  Church  for  any 
essential  change  in  the  Presbyterian  system  of  doctrine,  it  expresses 
the  belief  that  the  statements  of  the  doctrine  of  predestination  and 
reprobation  (or  pretention),  as  contained  in  Chapter  III.,  and 
especially  in  Sections  3,  4  and  7  ;  the  statements  of  the  doctrine 
of  the  fall  of  man,  as  contained  in  Chapter  VI.,  the  last  clause  of 
Section  2,  Section  4.  together  with  the  declaration  in  Section  3,  that 
"  they  being  the  root  of  all  mankind,  the  guilt  of  this  sin  was  imputed 
*  *  *  to  all  their  posterity;"  the  declaration  in  Chapter  IX, 
Section  3,  that  "  man,  by  his  fall  into  a  state  of  sin,  hath  lost  all  abil- 
ity of  will  to  any  spiritual  good  accompanying  salvation  "  ;  the  state- 
ment in  Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  "  Much  less  can  men  not  professing 
the  Christian  religion  be  saved  in  any  other  way  whatsoever,  be  they 
never  so  diligent  to  frame  their  lives  according  to  the  light  of  nature, 
and  the  law  of  that  religion  they  do  profess  "  ;  and  the  statement  of 
doctrine    in    the    same    Chapter,    in    Section    3,    concerning    "  elect 


MONTANA    TO    MUNCIE. 


75 


infants"  ;  are  expressed  in  form  and  measure  so  as  can  not  be  clearly 
proved  in  Holy  Scripture,  and  are  not  so  held  with  any  unanimity 
by  the  Church  ;  and  that  such  expressions  give  rise  to  much  misun- 
derstanding and  misrepresentation,  to  the  injury  of  the  Church,  and 
the  cause  of  Christ,  and  are  burdensome  to  the  consciences  of  very 
many,  and  for  these  reasons  the  Presbytery  thinks  that  such  parts  of 
the  Confession  should  be  revised. 

The  Presbytery  makes  these  further  suggestions,  viz:  That  in 
Chapter  XXIV,  Section  3,  all  after  the  words  "  marry  only  in  the 
Lord"  should  be  omitted;  that  in  Chapter  VIII,  Section  4,  the 
words  "  with  which  also  "  should  be  omitted. 

The  Presbytery  finds  a  lack  of  certain  things  in  the  Confession 
which  it  is  inost  desirable  that  it  should  contain.  It  finds  (1)  a 
deficiency  in  the  declaration  of  God's  infinite  love  to  the  world,  and 
his  full  and  free  offer  of  salvation  to  all  men  through  the  atonement 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  (2)  no  full  and  clear  statement  of  the  doc- 
trines of  the  person  and  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit;  (3)  no  clear  recog- 
nition of  the  great  commission  of  Christ  to  go  into  all  the  world  and 
preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature.  The  Presbytery  recommends 
that  suitable  declarations  on  these  points  be  added  to  the   Confession. 

[This  resolution  was  adopted  January  29,  1890.] 

Resolved,  That  the  following  language  in  the  action  taken  by  this 
Presbytery  on  the  subject  of  revision,  viz:  "While  the  Presbytery 
does  not  believe  that  there  is  any  desire  in  the  Church  for  any  essen- 
tial change  in  the  Presbyterian  system  of  doctrine,"  was  and  is 
intended  to  be  in  all  respects  equivalent  to  a  direct  statement,  that 
neither  does  this  Presbytery  desire,  nor  does  it  believe  that  the  Church 
at  large  desires,  any  change  in  the  Confession  of  Faith  which  shall 
"impair  the  integrity  of  the  Reformed  (or  Calvinistic)  system  of  doc- 
trine." 

[This  resolution  was  adopted  June  10,  1890,  and  by  a  unanimous 
vote.] 

Attest :  William  F.  Whitaker,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    MUNCIE. 

Muncie  Presbytery  protests  against  any  change  impairing  the  integ- 
rity of  the  system  of  doctrine  always  heretofore  taught  in  the  symbols 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Let  Section  3  of  the  third  Chapter  be  as  follows : 

"By  the  decree  of  God,  for  the  manifestation  of  his  glory,  some 
men  and  angels  are  predestinated  to  everlasting  life;  and  others,  in 


76  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

view  of  their  final  perseverance  in  sin,  are  foreordained  to  everlasting 
death.  Those  thus  predestinated  to  life  are  given  to  Christ  as  a  reward 
for  his  obedience  unto  death." 

Leave  out  Section  4,  Chapter  III. 

Omit  last  clause  of  Section  6,  beginning  with  the  words,  "  Neither 
are  any  others  redeemed  by  Christ,"  etc. 

Substitute  the  following  for  Section  7,  Chapter  III.: 

"To  the  rest  of  mankind  not  given  to  Christ,  God  is  pleased  in  his 
mercy  to  offer  sincerely  and  cordially  the  salvation  in  Christ  on  the 
same  terms  as  to  the  elect,  not  willing  that  any  should  perish,  nor 
taking  pleasure  in  the  death  of  any,  but  that  all  should  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth  and  live.  And  if  any  of  this  class,  led  by  the 
Word  and  Spirit  of  God,  should  repent  and  believe  in  Christ,  they 
will  be  saved.  But  if  they  will  not,  they  must  perish  forever,  as  mon- 
uments of  the  divine  wrath  toward  sin." 

Let  Chapter  X.  be  revised  so  as  to  prevent  ambiguity  in  Sections  3 
and  4. 

Let  Chapter  XXV.  be  amended  by  removing  the  words  "but  is 
that  Antichrist,"  et  seq.,  to  the  end  of  the  Chapter. 

Let  a  statement  be  added  to  Chapter  III.,  sufficiently  declaring 
God's  love  for  the  world,  but  discriminating  between  this  love  and  that 
for  his  elect ;  declaring  the  free  offer  of  salvation  to  all  who  will 
accept  it  on  the  terms  of  the  Gospel,  viz.,  repentance  and  faith  ;  and 
the  obligation  lying  on  the  Church  to  declare  this  Gospel  to  the  whole 
world. 

Attest :  Charles  Little,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    NASSAU. 

The  Presbytery  of  Nassau,  while  not  desiring  to  remodel  the  Con- 
fession, nor  to  revise  it  so  as  to  impair  the  essential  articles  of  our 
faith,  answers  the  second  question  as  follows : 

It  desires,  according  to  its  original  overture,  a  revision  of  Chapter 
III,  and  of  other  sections  related  thereto,  so  that  all  may  be  brought 
into  harmony  with  this  chapter  as  revised,  said  revision  to  set  forth 
on  the  one  hand  the  sovereignty  of  God,  and  on  the  other  most  fully 
the  love  of  God  to  man,  as  it  shines  so  brightly  in  the  Gospel. 

We  also  recommend : 

1.  The  omission  of  Section  3,  Chapter  X.,  on  the  ground  that  it  is 
not  "  Confessional"  matter. 

2.  The  revision  of  Chapter  X.,  so  as  to  preclude  that  explanation 
of  Section  4  which  makes  it  teach  the  damnation  of  all  the  heathen, 


NASSAU    TO    NEW    ALBANY.  77 

or  makes  it  deny  that  there  are  any  elect  heathen,  who  are  regener- 
ated and  saved  by  Christ  through  the  Spirit,  and  who  endeavor  to 
walk  in  penitence  and  humility,  according  to  the  measure  of  light 
which  God  has  been  pleased  to  grant  them. 

3.  The  omission  of  all  of  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  after  the 
the  clause  "  there  is  no  other  head  of  the  Church  but  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ." 

4.  The  omission  of  the  words  "  Papists  "  and  "  other,"  in  Chapter 
XXIV.,  Section  3,  making  the  section  read  thus:  "And  therefore 
such  as  profess  the  true  reformed  religion  should  not  marry  infidels  or 
idolaters." 

Furthermore,  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  there  are  other  matters  in 
the  Confession  of  Faith  which  stand  in  need  of  revision,  but,  recogniz- 
ing the  many  difficulties  attending  a  general  revision,  we  suggest  that 
the  General  Assembly  formulate  a  short,  simple  and  comprehensive 
creed. 

Attest:  A.  G.  Russell,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  NEBRASKA  CITY. 

We  desire  only  such  changes  in  forms  of  statement  as  shall  make 
our  Confession  of  Faith  less  liable  to  misunderstanding. 

We  think  such  changes  may  be  made  in  Chapter  III,  in  Chapter 
X,  and  in  Chapter  XXV,  either  in  the  way  of  emendation,  addition 
or  elimination. 

We  desire  these  changes  to  be  formulated,  with  a  wise  conserva- 
tism and  after  due  deliberation,  by  a  carefully  appointed  committee  of 
the  General  Assembly. 

While  desiring  these  changes,  we  wish  to  emphasize  our  devotion  to 
the  system  of  doctrine  contained  in  our  Confession  of  Faith,  because 
we  believe  it  to  be  a  faithful  mirror  of  Bible  truth. 

Attest :  S.  B.  Neilson,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  NEW  ALBANY. 

In  view  of  the  great  interest,  deep  feeling  and  various  sentiments 
developed  by  the  discussion  of  the  subject,  we  desire  revision  in  such 
respects  as  in  the  best  judgment  of  the  Assembly  will  remove  dissatis- 
faction, secure  harmony  and  peace  in  the  Church,  as  well  as  tend  to 
prevent  misjudgment  and  misrepresentation  from  without. 


ib  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

To  the  third  question  in  the  overture,  viz:  "To  what  extent  is 
revision  desired?"  we  answer  in  general,  but  moderate  terms, 
by  leaving  the  changes  to  be  made,  if  any,  to  the  united  wisdom  and 
discretion  of  the  Assembly,  provided  that  the  Calvinistic  system  of 
doctrines  contained  in  the  Confession  shall  in  no  wise  be  confused  or 
impaired. 

Attest:  A.  Y.  Moore,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  NEWARK. 

That  in  answer  to  the  second  question,  this  Presbytery  asks  that 
the  sections  herein  specified  be  amended  :  yet  so  amended  as  not  to 
impair  our  system  of  doctrine,  but  so  as  to  remove  just  cause  of  mis- 
understanding and  of  misrepresentation  of  these  articles  of  our  faith. 

In  specifying  the  amendments  desired,  this  Presbytery  asks : 

t.  That  in  Chapter  III  (Of  God's  eternal  decree),  all  the  sections, 
after  the  first,  be  so  recast  as  to  include  these  things  only,  viz.: 

A  simpler  statement  of  the  sovereignty  of  God  in  election  ;  the 
general  love  of  God  for  all  mankind,  and  the  abundant  provision 
in  Jesus  Christ  for  the  salvation  of  all,  to  be  preached  to  every  crea- 
ture. 

2.  That  in  Chapter  VI  (Of  the  fall  of  man,  of  sin,  and  of  the 
punishment  thereof),  the  fourth  Section  be  so  restated,  that  while  not 
abating  its  statement  of  the  prevalence  of  original  corruption  through- 
out man's  entire  nature,  it  shall  not  seem  to  exclude  entirely  all  kind 
dispositions,  such  as,  in  fact,  are  found  in  many  unregenerate  persons. 

3.  That  in  Chapter  VIII,  (Of  Christ  the  mediator),  in  the  fifth 
Section,  for  the  words,  "the  justice  of  his  Father,"  there  be  substi- 
tuted the  words  "  the  divine  justice,"  to  obviate  an  appearance  of 
attaching  the  attribute  of  justice  to  the  Father  particularly,  among 
the  persons  of  the  Godhead  ;  (and  that  a  similar  change  be  made  in 
Chapter  XI,  Section  3). 

4.  That  the  eighth  Section  of  Chapter  VIII  be  amended  to  read : 
"  to  all  who  come  to  Christ  for  salvation,  he  doth  certainly  and 
effectually  apply  and  communicate  the  same;  making  intercession  for 
them,  and  revealing  unto  them,"  etc.,  as  in  the  present  text. 

5.  That  in  Chapter  X.  (Of  effectual  calling)  the  first  Section  be 
amended  by  omitting  the  words,  "and  those  only,"  in  the  second 
line,  in  order  to  remove  a  possible  misunderstanding  that  it  restricts 
the  free  offer  of  salvation. 

6.  That  the  third  Section  of  the  tenth  Chapter  be  so  recast  as  to 
avoid  the  possible  implication  that  persons  dying  in  infancy  are  lost. 


NEWARK.  79 

7.  That  the  fourth  Section  of  the  same  Chapter  (X.)  be  so  recast 
(a)  as  to  remove  all  excuse  for  the  neglect  of  the  Gospel  on  the 
ground  that  there  are  some  who  "  can  not  be  saved  "  ;  and  (p)  as  not 
to  seem  to  teach  that  none  may  be  regenerated  by  the  Spirit,  and 
saved  through  Christ,  without  professing  the  Christian  religion. 

8.  That  in  Chapter  XV.,  (Of  repentance  unto  life)  in  the  fourth 
Section,  the  word  "condemnation"  be  substituted  for  the  word 
"  damnation." 

9.  That  in  Chapter  XVI.,  (Of  good  works)  the  seventh  Section  be 
so  restated,  that  while  preserving  its  teaching  concerning  the  charac- 
ter and  the  insufficiency  for  salvation,  of  the  morality  of  the  unregen- 
erate,  it  will  also  show  fuller  appreciation  of  the  ethical  difference 
between  what  is  good  and  what  is  bad  in  their  lives. 

10.  That  in  Chapter  XXI.  (Of  religious  worship  and  the  Sabbath 
day)  the  fourth  Section  be  amended  by  the  omission  of  all  after  the 
word  "dead"  in  the  third  line. 

11.  That  the  eighth  Section  of  the  same  Chapter  (XXI.)  be 
amended  by  omitting  the  words  "the  whole  time." 

12.  That  in  Chapter  XXII.  (Of  lawful  oaths  and  vows)  in  the  third 
Section  the  last  sentence  be  amended  to  read  :  "  And  it  is  a  duty  to 
make  oath  or  affirmation  touching  anything  that  is  good  and  just, 
being  imposed  by  lawful  authority." 

13.  That  in  Chapter  XXIV.  (Of  marriage  and  divorce)  the  third 
Section  be  amended  by  omitting  all  after  the  first  sentence;  i.  e.,  after 
the  word  "  Lord"  in  the  fourth  line,  the  declaration  of  the  first  sen- 
tence covering  the  whole  ground  and  being  sufficient,  without  giving 
needless  offense. 

14.  That  in  Chapter  XXV.  (Of  the  Church)  in  the  second  Section 
all  be  omitted  after  the  phrase  "  together  with  their  children." 

15.  That  the  sixth  Section  of  the  same  Chapter  (XXV.)  be 
amended  by  omitting  all  after  the  word  "  thereof"  in  the  third  line. 

16.  That  a  new  section  be  added  to  this  (XXV.)  Chapter,  which 
shall  set  forth  the  duty  of  the  Church  "to  make  disciples  of  all 
nations"  in  accordance  with  our  Lord's  last  command. 

17.  That  in  Chapter  XXVII.  (Of  the  sacraments)  the  fourth  Sec- 
tion be  amended  by  omitting  the  words,  "neither  of  which  may  be 
dispensed  by  any  but  a  minister  of  the  Word  lawfully  ordained." 
The  restriction  of  the  administration  to  ministers  being  doubtless 
wise  as  a  rule  for  practice,  but  not  to  be  made  a  doctrine  of  faith. 

18.  That  in  Chapter  XXVIII.  (Of  baptism)  the  second  Section  be 
amended  by  omitting  the  words  "by  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  lawfully 
called  thereunto." 


80  ANSWERS    OF*  PRESBYTERIES. 

19.  That  in  Chapter  XXIX.  (Of  the  Lord's  Supper)  the  eighth  Sec- 
tion be  amended  by  substituting  the  word  "  condemnation"  for  the 
word  "damnation." 

20.  That  in  Chapter  XXX.  (Of  church  censures),  the  second  Sec- 
tion be  so  recast  as  to  obviate  the  construction  that  church  officers 
are  able  to  forgive  sins. 

Attest :  William  T.  Findley,  Stated  Clerk. 

Per  Jul.  H.  Wolff,  Assistant  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    NEW  YORK. 

i.  The  Presbytery  would  regard  with  apprehension  any  attempts 
to  remodel  the  Confession  of  Faith,  as  endangering  the  integrity  of 
our  system  of  doctrine.  We  deprecate  most  earnestly  all  such  changes 
as  would  impair  the  essential  articles  of  our  faith,  contained  in  that 
Confession,  which  has  so  long  served  as  our  standard,  and  to  which 
we  are  bound  by  so  many  historic  and  personal  ties. 

2.  We  ask  only  such  changes  as  seem  to  us  urgently  needed  and 
generally  desired,  to-wit : 

We  desire  that  the  third  Chapter,  after  the  first  Section,  be  so 
recast  as  to  include  these  things  only :  The  sovereignty  of  God  in 
election ;  the  general  love  of  God  for  all  mankind ;  the  salvation  in 
Christ  Jesus  provided  for  all  and  to  be  preached  to  every  creature. 

3.  We  desire  that  the  tenth  Chapter  be  so  revised  as  not  to 
appear  to  discriminate  concerning  infants  dying  in  infancy,  or  so  as  to 
omit  all  reference  to  them  (Section  3") ;  and  so  to  preclude  that  expla- 
nation of  Section  4  which  makes  it  teach  the  damnation  of  all  the 
heathen,  or  makes  it  deny  that  there  are  any  elect  heathen  who  are 
regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ  through  the  Spirit,  and  who  endeavor 
to  walk  in  penitence  and  humility,  according  to  the  measure  of  light 
which  God  has  been  pleased  to  grant  them. 

4.  While  there  are  other  points  which  the  Presbytery  would  be 
glad  to  see  modified  or  changed,  as  conspicuously  Chapter  XXIV., 
Section  3,  and  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  nevertheless  we  prefer  to 
confine  our  suggestions  for  revision  to  the  third  and  tenth  Chapters, 
as  above  indicated. 

Attest:  S.  D.  Alexander,  Stated  Clerk. 


NEW    YORK    TO    NIOBRARA.  81 


THE  PRESBYTERY    OF  NIAGARA. 


We,  the  Presbytery  of  Niagara,  believing  that  the  Westminster  Con- 
fession of  Faith  contains  in  substance  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in 
the  Holy  Scripture,  affirm  our  loyalty  to  the  Confession,  and  oppose 
any  revision  which  would  deny  any  fundamental  doctrine  therein 
taught.  We  suggest  the  following  changes  in  the  interest  of  unity 
and  progress  : 

I. — That  the  third  Chapter  be  so  recast  as  to  include  a  fuller  state- 
ment of  God's  love  for  all  mankind,  of  the  offer  of  salvation  through 
Christ  unto  all,  of  the  responsibility  of  all  to  receive  and  obey  the 
truth,  in  accordance  with  John  iii.  16-19;  1  Tim.  ii.  1-4;  2  Pet.  3-9, 
etc.;  and  that  there  be  added  to  this  chapter,  or  put  in  some  other 
appropriate  place,  a  recognition  of  the  responsibility  laid  upon  the 
Church  by  the  command  of  our  Lord  in  Matt,  xxviii.  19-20. 

2.  That  Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  be  so  revised  as  not  to  discriminate 
against  infants  dying  in  infancy,  or  others  incapable  of  being  out- 
wardly called  by  the  Word. 

3.  By  inserting  in  Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  the  words  "  not  accept- 
ing" instead  of  "professing." 

4.  In  Chapter  XXII.,  Section  3,  substitute  for  "it  is  sin,"  "no 
one  ought." 

5.  In  Chapter  XXIV.,  Section  3,  omit  "other"  before  the  word 
"idolaters." 

6.  That  the  last  sentence  of  Section  6,  Chapter  XXV.,  be  omitted, 
beginning  with  the  words,  "nor  can  the  Pope." 

Attest:  Edward  P.  Marvin,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  NIOBRARA. 

That  those  statements  of  God's  decrees  of  reprobation  in  Chapter 
III,  Sections  3  and  4,  of  preterition  in  Chapter  III,  Section  7,  and  of 
election  of  infants  in  Chapter  X,  Section  3,  be  modified;  that  the 
references  to  the  Papists  in  Chapter  XXIV,  Section  3,  and  to  the  '  'Pope 
of  Rome"  in  Chapter  XXV,  Section  6,  be  left  out.  And  that  the 
entire  revision  be  such  as  to  make  the  Confession  of  Faith  a  firm  and 
clear  Calvinistic  formula  of  God's  purpose  of  love  in  redemption. 

Attest:  Wm.  E.  Kimball,  Stated  Clerk. 


82  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    NORTH    RIYER. 


The  Presbytery  of  North  River,  while  reaffirming  its  unswerving 
loyalty  to  the  doctrines  of  grace  set  forth  in  our  Confession  of  Faith, 
declares  its  conviction  that,  in  order  to  express  these  doctrines  so  as 
to  render  them  less  liable  to  misunderstanding,  the  Confession  of 
Faith  should  be  revised  as  follows  : 

i.  The  doctrine  of  the  divine  decrees  should  be  so  restated  as  to 
preclude  the  inferences — (i)  that  God  foreordains  any  man  to  ever- 
lasting death,  irrespective  of  character;  or,  (2)  that  the  decree  hin- 
ders any  man  from  obedience  to  God  or  from  acceptance  of  Christ, 
when  offered  him. 

2.  Human  free  agency,  with  the  responsibility  it  involves,  should 
be  set  forth  explicitly,  prominently,  and  with  emphasis  biblically  pro- 
portionate to  that  placed  on  the  doctrine  of  the  divine  decrees. 

3.  Especial  prominence  and  clearness  of  statement  should  be  given 
to  God's  gracious  attitude  toward  all  men;  embracing  his  fatherly  and 
compassionate  love  for  all,  the  sincere  offer  of  eternal  life  in  Christ, 
made,  in  his  Word,  to  every  sinner,  and  his  assurance  that  he  hath  no 
pleasure  in  the  death  of  the  wicked,  but  that  the  wicked  turn  from 
his  way  and  live.  And,  therefore,  no  statement  should  be  retained 
which  explicitly  or  implicitly  denies  these  truths. 

4.  The  common  operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  the  hearts  of  all 
men,  and  the  witness  and  work  of  conscience,  should  be  set  forth 
with  plainness  and  emphasis,  as  constituting  that  common  grace  which 
God  vouchsafes  to  every  sinner,  to  lead  him  to  repentance. 

5.  No  statement  should  be  retained  which  implies,  or  may  fairly 
be  held  to  imply  that  any  infants,  dying  in  infancy,  are  not  saved;  or 
that  salvation,  through  Christ,  is  withheld  from  those  who  have  not 
lveard  the  Gospel,  but  strive  to  obey  the  light  given  them  and  are 
penitent  for  their  sins. 

6.  The  statement  of  the  doctrine  of  the  Church  should  explicitly 
affirm  that,  by  Christ's  appointment,  it  is  the  Church's  duty  and 
privilege  to  carry  the  Gospel  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth,  and 
to  offer  salvation  to  every  sinner. 

7.  While  the  sole  headship  of  Christ  over  his  Church,  and  the 
falsity  of  all  human  claims  to  headship  thereof,  should  be  affirmed, 
statements  should  not  be  retained  which  appear  to  reflect  upon  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church  with  a  larger  measure  of  harshness  than  is 
necessary  to  the  most  faithful  maintenance  of  Protestant  principles. 

The  Presbytery  therefore  recommends  that  the  Confession  of  Faith 
be  amended  by  insertion,  removal  and  alteration  of  statements,  in  all 


NORTH    RIVER    TO    OLYMPIA.  83 

such  parts  and  to  such  extent,  as  shall  be  necessary  and  sufficient  to 
accomplish  revision,  in  all  the  foregoing  particulars. 

We  believe  that  a  new  creed  is  needed,  especially  for  popular  use, 
to  express  the  conceptions  of  biblical  truth  to  which  the  children  of 
God  have  been  led  by  a  devout  study  of  Holy  Scripture  in  our  own 
time,  and  to  equip  the  Church  for  the  conquest  of  the  world  to  Christ, 
to  which  God's  providence  so  signally  calls  us. 

Such  a  creed  should  be  short,  simple  and  biblical.  It  should  be  as 
free  as  possible  from  technical  terms.  It  should  express  the  essential 
truths  held  by  churches  of  our  faith  and  order. 

Attest :  Duncan  C.  Niven,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  NORTHUMBERLAND. 

In  reply  to  the  overture  of  our  General  Assembly  on  the  subject  of 
a  revision  of  our  Confession  of  Faith,  the  Presbytery  of  Northumber- 
land, while  declaring  its  firm  adherence  to  the  system  of  doctrine  of 
our  Church,  known  as  "Calvinism,"  is  in  favor  of  such  revision  as 
shall  remove  all  question  of  the  conformity  of  phraseology  in  the 
Confession  to  the  teaching  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  which  are  the 
primal  standard  of  truth. 

That  any  form  of  statements,  especially  in  the  third,  fourth  and 
tenth  Chapters,  and  in  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  which  conveys,  or 
seems  to  convey,  erroneous  or  unscriptural  implications,  and  which 
are  occasions  of  stumbling,  be  modified  or  eliminated. 

The  scope  of  the  New  Testament  manifestly  demands  a  more 
explicit  Confessional  declaration  of  God's  love  to  the  human  family, 
as  manifested  in  the  plan  of  redemption  ;  and  the  grand  developments 
of  God's  providence,  call  for  a  more  prominent  statement  of  the 
acceptance  by  the  Church  of  the  great  commission  of  our  ascended 
Lord. 

Attest:  Robert  Laird  Stewart,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    OLYMPIA. 

It  is  the  judgment  of  this  Presbytery  that  any  proposed  Confessional 
change  may  safely  be  left  to  any  committee  which  the  Assembly  may 
appoint,  subject  to  the  following  provisos  : 


84  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

i.  That  said  committee  shall  be  composed  of  representatives  from 
every  Synod  belonging  to  the  General  Assembly. 

2.  That  no  changes  shall  be  made  which  shall  destroy  the  integrity 
of  the  system  of  doctrine  contained  in  the  Confession  of  Faith. 

3.  That  forms  of  statement  which  seem  to  convey  unscriptural  im- 
plications, which  are  occasions  of  stumbling,  especially  those  in  the 
third  and  tenth  Chapters,  be  modified  or  eliminated. 

4.  That  more  full  and  explicit  expression  be  given  to  the  doctrine 
of  the  divine  love,  and  our  Lord's  command  to  preach  the  Gospel 
to  every  creature. 

Attest :  J.  Osmond,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  OREGON. 

That  while  this  Presbytery  accepts  and  adheres  to  the  system  of 
doctrine  contained  in  the  Confession  of  Faith,  we  believe  that  some 
changes  are  necessary ;  and  while  we  think  it  wise  that  the  changes  to 
be  made  should  be  suggested  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  their  report  to  be  ratified  afterward  by  the  Presbyteries  ; 
we  desire  at  least  the  following  : 

First.  That  Chapter  III,  Section  7,  be  omitted,  and  the  whole 
chapter,  after  the  first  Section,  be  recast  so  as  to  give  it  a  tone  more  in 
harmony  with  that  of  Scripture,  introducing  a  fuller  statement  of  God's 
love  for  the  world,  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ,  and  our  obligation 
to  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature,  all  of  which  has  been  so  long 
emphasized  in  the  teaching  of  the  Church. 

Second.  That  the  ambiguous  expression  "  elect  infants,"  which 
occurs  in  Chapter  X,  Section  3,  be  so  changed  as  to  express  clearly 
the  belief  of  the  Church  upon  the  subject  of  infant  salvation. 

Third.     That  all  of  Chapter  XXV,  Section  6,  which  refers  to  the 
Pope  be   omitted,    retaining   only  the   first   sentence,  which    reads, 
''There  is  no  other  head  of  the  Church  but  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
Attest:  T-  V.  Milligan,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  OTSEGO. 

While  this  Presbytery  would  regard  with  apprehension  any  attempts 
to  so  remodel  the  Confession  of  Faith  as  to  endanger  the  integrity  of 
its  system  of  doctrine,  yet  it  desires  revision  and  modification  in  sev- 
eral important  particulars,  viz.: 


OREGOX    TO    OTTAWA.  85 

i.  That  the  third  Chapter,  after  the  first  Section,  be  so  recast  as  to 
include  these  things  particularly:  the  sovereignty  of  God  in  election, 
the  general  love  of  God  for  all  mankind ;  the  salvation  in  Christ 
Jesus  provided  for  all  mankind,  and  to  be  preached  to  every  creature, 
and  that  the  responsibility  for  the  rejection  of  this  salvation  rests 
wholly  with  the  creature. 

2.  That  the  sixth  Chapter  be  so  revised  as  to  preclude  that  expla- 
nation of  section  Third  which  makes  it  teach  that  mankind  are  guilty 
of  Adam's  sin. 

3.  That  the  tenth  Chapter  be  so  revised  as  not  to  appear  to  dis- 
criminate concerning  "infants  dying  in  infancy,"  or  to  omit  all  refer- 
ence to  them  (Section  3),  and  so  as  to  preclude  that  explanation  of 
Section  fourth  which  makes  it  teach  the  damnation  of  all  the  heathen, 
or  makes  it  deny  that  there  are  any  elect  heathen  who  are  regenerated 
and  saved  by  Christ  through  the  Spirit,  and  who  walk  in  penitence 
and  faith  according  to  the  measure  of  light  which  God  has  been 
pleased  to  grant  them. 

4.  That  Chapter  XXV,  Section  6,  be  stricken  out. 

There  are  other  changes  and  modifications  that  this  Presbytery 
desires  to  see  in  order  to  harmonize  the  Confession  of  Faith  with  the 
Scriptures  as  understood  in  the  light  of  modern  research  and  exegesis, 
but  as  the  whole  matter,  if  revision  is  determined  upon  by  the  General 
Assembly,  will  doubtless  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  wise  and  judi- 
cious commission,  it  is  willing  to  commit  these  to  the  learning  and  dis- 
crimination of  such  a  commission  as  the  General  Assembly  may 
appoint. 

Furthermore,  while  this  Presbytery  desires  the  changes  above  indi- 
cated, it  also  desires  the  General  Assembly  to  formulate  a  statement 
of  doctrine  containing  the  essential  teachings  of  the  Confession  of 
Faith  as  revised. 

Attest:  Frank  H.  Coffran,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    OTTAWA. 

Whereas,  We  have  such  confidence  in  the  wisdom,  orthodoxy,  integ- 
rity and  stability  of  the  body  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  as  gives  us 
faith  to  believe  that  any  revision  which  would  be  consented  to  and 
adopted  by  the  Church,  would  preserve  the  full  integrity  of  the  system 
of  doctrine  as  now  contained  in  the  Confession  of  Faith,  and  in 
the  fulfillment  of  this  confidence,  we  do  consent  and  give  an  affirmative 
answer  to  the  Assembly's  overture. 


86  ANSWERS    TO    PRESBYTERIES. 

The  Presbytery  would  answer  that,  in  its  judgment,  the  extent  to 
which  the  revision  should  be  carried,  and  the  particular  form  it  should 
take  before  submission  to  the  Presbyteries  for  constitutional  ratification, 
should  consist  in  a  few  verbal  changes  in  phraseology  which  seem  to 
be  misunderstood,  and  expose  our  system  of  doctrine  to  unmerited 
criticism.  To  particularize,  we  would  note  the  third  and  tenth  Chap- 
ters, in  which  there  might  be  some  eliminations  and  modifications. 

And  to  subserve  the  purpose  intended  by  a  Confession,  we  desire  to 
express  our  belief  that  it  should  be  a  just  expression  of  the  integral 
sense  of  the  whole  Scripture.  And  while  it  states  truths  with  scrip- 
tural accuracy,  it  should  present  these  truths  in  the  proportion  of  the 
emphasis  which  in  the  Scriptures  those  truths  have  laid  upon  them  ; 
therefore,  we  would  suggest  that  God's  love  for  the  world,  his  com- 
mission to  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature,  and  his  offer  of  salva- 
tion to  all,  and  his  expressed  desire  of  saving  all  who  will  accept  and 
believe  on  his  name,  might  well  be  given  fuller  and  more  definite 
expression. 

Attest:  Thomas  Galt,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    PEKING. 

The  Presbytery  would  prefer  a  thorough  revision,  aiming  to  secure 
a  Confession  clearer,  more  concise,  less  technical,  more  practical,  and 
manifesting  toward  all  evangelical  Christians  more  of  an  irenical 
spirit.  The  Presbytery  thinks  such  a  Confession  would  be  better 
adapted  to  the  edification  of  all  believers,  and  more  conducive  to  the 
spirit  of  unity  among  all  orthodox  churches. 

The  Presbytery  would  point  particularly  to  Chapter  III.,  Sections 
3,  4,  6,  7  ;  Chapter  IV.,  Section  i ;  Chapter  VI.,  Section  4;  Chapter 
IX.,  Section  3;  Chapter  X  ,  Sections  3,  4;  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6; 
as  specially  objectionable,  either  for  statements  not  warranted  by  Scrip- 
ture, or  for  doctrines  infelicitously  expressed. 

Attest:  J.  L.  Whiting,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    PETOSKEY. 

i.  We  do  not  desire  a  revision  which  will  impair  the  integrity  of 
our  system  of  doctrine,  embodied  in  the  Confession  of  Faith,  and 
taught,  as  we  believe,  in  the  Holy  Scriptures. 


PEKING    TO    PUEBLO.  87 

2.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  we  are  not  in  bondage  to  any  form  of 
words,  however  venerable,  which  do  not  bear  the  impress  of  the  Holy 
Spirit;  and  would  welcome  a  briefer  and  simpler  formulation  of  our 
Creed,  in  which  such  extra-scriptural,  controversial,  inferential,  and 
explanatory  statements,  as  are  not  essential  to  a  clear  apprehension  of 
the  truth,  shall  be  omitted,  and  the  redundant  and  antiquated  style  of 
two  centuries  and  a  half  ago  shall  be  simplified  and  modernized. 

3.  But,  failing  in  that,  we  desire,  at  least,  the  following  changes. 
(a)  The  elimination  from  Chapter  III.,  of  Section  7,  setting  forth  the 
doctrine  of  pretention  or  reprobation,  which,  however  logical,  as  an 
inference  from  the  doctrine  of  election,  has  no  sufficient  warrant  in  any 
clear  declaration  of  the  Scriptures,  (b)  In  place  of  the  section  thus 
omitted  we  desire  the  introduction  of  the  doctrine  of  a  full  and  free 
provision  and  offer  of  salvation  to  all  men,  through  the  rich  mercy 
and  grace  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ,  who  will  have  all  men  to  be  saved 
and  to  come  unto  the  knowledge  of  the  truth.  (V)  We  desire  Chapter 
X.,  Section  3,  to  be  so  amended  as  to  express,  without  ambiguity,  the 
almost  universal  belief  of  the  Protestant  world,  touching  the  salvation 
of  infants,  and  of  those  who  are  incapable  of  being  outwardly  called 
by  the  ministry  of  the  Word.  (d)  We  desire  the  omission  from 
Chapters  XXV.  and  XXIX.  of  those  statements  concerning  the 
Church  of  Rome  and  its  constituted  head,  which,  however  true,  have 
no  proper  place  in  a  church  creed. 

Attest :  W.  P.  Gibson,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    PUEBLO. 

i.  By  adding  to  Section  3,  of  Chaper  X,  "all  infants  dying  in 
infancy  are  elect,  and  hence  saved." 

2.  By  amending  Section  6,  of  Chapter  XXV,  to  read  "nor  can 
the  Pope  of  Rome  in  any  sense  be  head  thereof,  but  has  in  him 
many  elements  of  that  Antichrist,  that  man  of  sin,"  etc. 

3.  By  omitting  Section  7,  of  Chapter  XVI,  concerning  good  works 
of  unregenerate  persons. 

4.  By  giving  fuller  expression  to  the  doctrine  of  the  love  of  God, 
and  to  the  duty  of  the  Church  to  evangelize  the  world. 

Attest:  Jas.  W.  Stark,  Stated  Clerk. 


88  ANSWERS    TO    PRESBYTERIES. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    PUGET    SOUND. 


Chapter  III.,  Section  3.     Add  "for  their  sins"  at  the  close. 

Chapter  III.,  Sections  4  and  7.  Also  the  last  sentence  of  Section 
6.     Omit. 

In  their  place  add  this:  "God's  decree  is  a  divine  secret  not 
revealed  as  a  rule  for  human  conduct,  and  hinders  no  one  from 
accepting  Christ  as  his  Savior;  and  ought  not  to  be  construed  as 
contradicting  the  declaration  of  Christ,  that  '  God  so  loved  the  world 
that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him 
should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.'  " 

Chapter  X.,  Section  3.  Omit  the  word  "elect"  at  the  beginning 
of  the  section. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4.     Omit. 

Chapter  XVI.,  Section  7.     Omit. 

Insert  in  some  suitable  place  in  the  Confession,  a  full  and  definite 
statement  of  God's  compassionate  love  for  all  men,  the  free  offer  of 
salvation  to  all,  and  the  obligation  of  the  Church  to  preach  the  Gospel 
of  salvation  to  all  the  world. 

Attest:  Geo.  F.  Whitworth,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  RIO  GRANDE. 

In  reply  to  the  second  question,  "If  so,  in  what  respects,  and  to 
what  extent?"  the  Presbytery  answers  by  respectfully  proposing  the 
following  changes  : 

1.  Change  and  combine  Sections  3  and  7  of  Chapter  III.,  so  that 
the  resulting  section  after  consolidation  shall  read:  "  By  the  decree 
of  God,  for  the  manifestation  of  his  glory,  according  to  the  unsearch- 
able counsel  of  his  own  will,  whereby  he  extendeth  or  withholdeth 
mercy  as  he  pleaseth,  some  men  and  angels  are  predestinated  unto 
everlasting  life,  and  the  rest  are  passed  by,  and  left  to  the  just  penal 
consequences  of  their  sin,  to  the  praise  of  his  glorious  justice."  The 
above  section  to  stand  as  Section  3,  and  Sections  3  and  7,  as  they 
now  stand,  to  be  omitted  from  the  Confession. 

2.  Omit  from  the  Confession  all  of  Chapter  III.,  Section  4. 

3.  Change  Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  so  as  to  read  :  "  Infants  dying 
in  infancy,  and  those  of  the  elect  who  have  never  been,  or  are  inca- 
pable of  being,  outwardly  called  by  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  are 
regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ  through  the  Spirit,  who  worketh 
when,  and  where,  and  how  he  pleaseth." 


PUGET    SOUND    TO    RIO    GRANDE.  89 

4.  Change  the  latter  part  of  Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  so  as  to  read: 
"  Much  less  can  men  not  professing  the  Christian  religion  be  saved 
by  framing  their  lives  according  to  the  light  of  nature  and  the  laws  of 
that  religion  they  do  profess ;  and  to  assert  and  maintain  that  they 
may  is  very  pernicious,  and  to  be  detested.'' 

In  support  of  these  proposed  changes,  the  Presbytery  begs  leave  to 
present  the  following  reasons  : 

1.  Pretention  is  the  necessary  correlative  of  election,  and  being  in 
the  Confession,  its  removal  therefrom  would  impair,  or  at  least  be 
construed  as  impairing,  our  system  of  doctrine.  But  we  would  distin- 
guish between  the  terms  "  preterition  "  and  "  foreordination  to  ever- 
lasting death."  Strictly  taken,  preterition  may  be  regarded  as  negative 
and  permissive  in  relation  to  the  sinner's  eternal  condition.  It  is  the 
simple  passing  by  of,  or  the  failing  to  elect,  the  non-elect.  The  "dis- 
honor and  wrath"  to  which  they  "are  foreordained"  are  the  just 
penal  consequences  of  their  sin.  They  are  simply  left  to  these  conse- 
quences. "Foreordination  to  everlasting  death,"  on  the  other  hand, 
may  be  construed  actively,  and  the  use  of  it  gives  to  the  Confession 
a  tinge  of  Supralapsarianism,  which  is  neither  necessary  nor  desirable. 
We  would  therefore  omit  from  Chapter  III.,  Section  3,  the  expression 
"are  foreordained  to  everlasting  death,"  and  substitute  in  its  place 
"are  passed  by,"  etc.,  as  given  in  our  action. 

2.  Inasmuch  as  Chapter  III.,  Section  4,  though  not  without  ade- 
quate scriptural  support,  is,  in  the  form  in  which  it  stands,  an  inferen- 
tial statement,  which  is  not  essential  to  the  integrity  of  our  system  of 
doctrine,  and,  as  it  is,  moreover,  the  section  which  is,  perhaps,  most 
frequently  cited  as  objectionable  by  our  opponents,  we  desire  its 
removal  from  the  Confession. 

3.  Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  as  it  stands,  may  be,  and,  in  fact,  often  is 
construed  as  denying  that  any  among  the  unevangelized  heathen  are 
saved  in  any  way  whatsoever.  We  desire  that  it  be  changed  by  omitting 
the  words  which  render  it  susceptible  of  such  construction. 

4.  Upon  grounds  held  to  be  scriptural,  it  is  generally  believed  and 
taught  in  our  Church  that  all  infants  dying  in  infancy  are  saved,  and 
that  there  may  be  some  elect  persons  among  the  unevangelized  heathen, 
as  among  other  classes  of  men ;  and  we  believe  that  the  changes  we  have 
proposed,  in  conformity  with  these  opinions,  would  go  far  toward 
relieving  our  system  of  doctrine  from  the  prejudice  felt  against  it  even 
by  some  of  our  own  people. 

Further,  we  would  say  that  we  respectfully  deprecate  any  changes 
in  the  Confession  for  the  professed  purpose  of  rendering  it  more 
"Christo-centric,"  and  of  bringing  out  more  fully  and  clearly  the  gen- 


90  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

eral  love  of  God  to  sinners.  In  these  particulars  it  is  sufficiently  clear 
and  comprehensive,  and  such  changes  could  only  result  in  promoting 
that  tendency  to  Universalism  now  so  prevalent,  which,  magnifying 
man's  claims  and  God's  obligations  in  the  matter  of  salvation,  is  not 
content  with  merely  scornfully  rejecting  the  doctrine  of  the  special 
love  of  God  in  election,  but  goes  to  the  length  of  questioning  his 
punitive  justice,  and  the  need  of  a  vicarious  atonement,  and  of  regen- 
erating grace.  For  exemplification,  we  would  refer  to  the  "down- 
graders"  of  the  dissenting  churches  of  Great  Britain,  and,  in  general, 
to  the  teachings  of  many  persons  of  rationalistic  proclivities  in  our 
own  and  in  other  lands.  The  best  answer  to  objections  of  the  class 
above  referred  to  is  to  point  to  our  Church  Boards  and  to  the  great 
work  which  our  Church  is  doing  for  the  extension  of  the  Gospel  and 
the  salvation  of  men. 

Finally,  we  object  to  any  change  in  the  article  of  the  Confession 
which  relates  to  the  Pope  of  Rome.  It  is  not  to  be  denied  that  the 
Roman  Catholic  system  of  doctrine  may  be  so  interpreted  as  to  appear 
in  the  main  to  be  unobjectionable;  but  Roman  Catholicism,  as  a  the- 
oretical system,  is  one  thing,  and  Popery,  as  practically  administered, 
is  quite  another  thing.  "  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  One- 
half  of  the  members  of  this  Presbytery  are  engaged  in  the  work  of 
trying  to  remove  from  this  part  of  our  land  the  blight  of  Popery,  under 
which  it  has  so  long  been  languishing.  The  ignorance,  poverty  and 
superstition  which  prevail  here,  after  three  hundred  years  of  Romish 
dominancy,  demonstrate  the  fact  that  the  Romish  system  is  prac- 
tically pernicious;  and  when  we  see  the  Pope,  the  priest,  the  Virgin 
and  the  saints  usurping  the  authority  and  veneration  which  belong 
alone  to  Christ,  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  we  can  not  for  a 
moment  question  the  correctness  of  the  teachings  of  the  Confession 
upon  this  point. 

LARGER    CATECHISM. 

5.  In  order  to  conform  the  Larger  Catechism  to  the  proposed 
changes  in  the  Confession  of  Faith,  (a),  change  the  latter  part  of  the 
answer  to  Question  13  so  as  to  read,  "  Hath  passed  by  the  rest,  and 
left  them  to  the  just  pencil  consequences  of  their  sin,  to  the  praise  of  the 
glory  of  his  justice." 

And  (b),  change  the  answer  to  Question  60  so  as  to  read :  "  They 
who,  having  never  heard  the  Gospel,  know  not  Jesus  Christ,  and 
believe  not  in  him,  can  not  be  saved  by  framing  their  lives  according 
to  the  light  of  nature,  or  the  laws  of  that  religion  which  they  profess; 


ROCHESTER    TO    SAGINAW.  91 

but  those  of  them  who  are  of  the  number  of  the  elect,  are  regenerated 
and  saved  by  Christ  through  the  Spirit,  who  worketh  when,  and  where, 
and  how  he  pleaseth." 

Attest :  G.  W.  Riggle,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    ROCHESTER. 

The  changes  which  we  propose  are  as  follows :  First,  we  recom- 
mend that  all  the  sections  in  Chapter  III.  of  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  except  the  first,  be  stricken  out,  and  that  the  chapter  be  so 
re-cast  as  to  include  a  full  statement  of  these  points : 

i.  In  regard  to  the  sovereign  grace  of  God  in  the  election  of 
believers  to  salvation. 

2.  In  regard  to  the  infinite  love  of  God  to  all  mankind,  especially 
as  exhibited  in  Jesus  Christ  his  Son. 

3.  That  the  atonement  is  sufficient  for  all,  adapted  to  all,  and  can 
be  heartily  offered  to  all. 

4.  That  there  is  a  pressing  obligation  resting  upon  the  Church  to 
send  the  Gospel  to  all  nations,  inasmuch  as  all  are  lost. 

5.  That  no  man  is  eternally  lost  because  he  is  not  elected,  but 
because  he  is  guilty  of  eternal  sin. 

We  also  desire  that  Sections  3  and  4,  Chapter  X.,  on  effectual 
calling,  be  so  modified  respectively,  as  to  avoid  the  inference  that 
infants  dying  in  infancy  may  be  lost,  and  that  the  door  of  mercy  is 
not  open  to  any,  except  through  the  preached  word. 

3.  Further,  we  would  have  expunged  from  Chapter  XXV.,  Section 
6,  the  following: 

"  But  is  that  Antichrist,  that  man  of  sin  and  son  of  perdition,  that 
exalteth  himself  in  the  Church  against  Christ  and  all  that  is  called 
God." 

Also  from  Chapter  XXIV.,  Section  3,  the  words  "Papists  and 
others." 

Attest :  Levi  Parsons,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  SAGINAW. 

This  Presbytery  means  to  affirm  its  firm  and  full  belief  in  the  system 
of  doctrine  taught  in  our  grand  old  Confession.  But  we  desire  to 
modify  certain  words  and  phrases  which  have  been  subject  to  misin- 
terpretation, and  which  some  consider  as  impediments  in  the  way  of 


92  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

the  growth  of  our  Church,  and  more  especially  to  bring  us  nearer  to  a 
perfect  realization  of  an  answer  to  the  Master's  prayer,  "That  they 
all  may  be  one."  » 

i.  That  Chapter  III.,  Section  4,  be  amended  to  read  as  follows: 
"As  to  the  number  of  the  elect,  we  reverently  bow  to  the  inscrutable 
wisdom  of  God  as  revealed  in  Scripture,  that  '  the  Lord  knoweth 
them  that  are  his,  and  knows  whom  he  has  chosen.'  " 

2.  That  in  Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  the  first  word,  "elect,"  be 
erased,  leaving  the  section  otherwise  unaltered. 

The  following  overture  was  ordered  sent  to  General  Assembly  : 
"  The  Presbytery  of  Saginaw  hereby  overtures  the  General  Assembly 
to  submit  to  the  Presbyteries  a  brief  Confession  of  Faith,  containing 
the  essentials  of  religion,  expressed  in  language  so  simple  and  scrip- 
tural that  it  may  bear  the  largest  witness  to  the  truth." 

Attest:  John  T.  Oxtoby,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  SAINT  CLAIRSVILLE. 

The  second  question  of  the  Overture  on  the  Revision  of  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith  was  answered,  by  leaving  it  to  the  wisdom  of  the 
General  Assembly  to  what  extent  revision  shall  be  made. 

Attest:  George  S.  Hackett,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  ST.   LAWRENCE. 

The  Presbytery  desires  the  Confession  amended,  in  respect  to 
its  acknowledged  liability  to  misconception  and  perversion.  The 
reference  is  especially  to  Chapter  III,  Sections  3,  4  and  5,  and  to 
Chapter  X,  Sections  3  and  4. 

The 'Presbytery  also  adopted  the  following,  viz.:  We  overture  the 
General  Assembly,  that  they  give  us  a  brief  statement  of  what  is  the 
belief  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  to-day. 

Attest :  L.  Merrill  Miller,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  ST.   PAUL. 

The  Presbytery  of  St.  Paul,  to  the  best  of  its  knowledge  and  belief, 
steadfastly  holds  to  the  necessary  and  essential  doctrines  of  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith,  and  desires  no  change  in  these  doctrines. 


SAINT    CLAIRSVILLE    TO    SANTA    FE.  93 

i.  We  regard  it,  however,  as  important  that  a  more  explicit  and 
unmistakable  statement  be  made  of  God's  love  to  all  men,  of  the 
sufficiency  of  the  atonement  for  all  men,  of  the  free  and  sincere  offer 
of  salvation  to  all  men,  and  the  imperative  duty  of  the  Church  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature. 

2.  We  recommend  also  that  the  statements  and  phraseology  of 
Chapter  III,  after  the  second  Section,  be  so  changed  or  modified  as 
to  guard  against  the  interpretation  that  the  decrees  of  God  hinder 
men  from  being  saved,  or  which  would  charge  upon  God  responsibil- 
ity for  or  pleasure  in  the  loss  of  souls. 

3.  We  recommend  that  Chapter  X.  be  so  altered  in  its  phraseology 
that  it  may  not  seem  to  teach  that  some  infants  dying  in  infancy  are 
lost,  nor  appear  to  assert,  as  a  doctrine  of  revelation,  that  none  of 
the  heathen  are  among  the  elect. 

4.  Other  minor  changes  which  may  seem  necessary  in  making  the 
foregoing  alterations  and  modifications,  we  would  leave  to  the  wise 
discretion  of  any  committee  which  the  Assembly  may  appoint. 

Full  action  in  answer  to  second  question. 

Attest :  John  Wools,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    SANTA    FE. 

The  Presbytery  answers  that  it  desires  : 

1.  That  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  by  the  Westminster  Con- 
fession of  Faith,  and  Catechisms  be  preserved  in  its  full  integrity. 

2.  That  the  Confession  be  made  to  include  a  clear  expression  of 
the  scriptural  truth  that  "  God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only 
begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish, 
but  have  everlasting  life,"  and  to  declare  that  the  ample  salvation 
provided  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  to  be  preached  to  the  whole 
world  and  offered  to  every  creature. 

3.  That  Chapters  III.,  V.,  X.,  XXV.  and  XXXII.  be  revised,  and 
that  the  Confession  and  Catechisms  be  brought  into  harmony  with  the 
amended  portions ;  that  the  extent  and  definite  form  of  these  changes 
and  any  others  which  it  may  be  proposed  to  submit  to  the  Presbyteries, 
be  formulated  by  a  committee  to  be  appointed  by  the  General 
Assembly. 

Attest:  J.  McGaughey,  Stated  Clerk. 


94  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  SCHUYLER. 

i.  Resolved,  That  we  desire  no  change  in  the  Confession  of  Faith 
which  shall  in  the  slightest  degree  impair  the  integrity  of  the  system 
of  doctrine  as  held  by  our  Church  and  taught  in  the  Sacred  Scrip- 
tures. 

2.  We  desire  such  change  in  the  phraseology  and  statement  as  shall 
remove,  as  far  as  possible,  known  liability  to  misunderstanding  and 
misrepresentation  of  the  faith  of  the  Church,  leaving  it  to  the  judg- 
ment of  the  General  Assembly  to  formulate  changes  for  the  action  of 
the  Presbyteries. 

3.  We  desire  a  place  given  in  the  Confession  to  the  love  of  God  for 
the  world,  and  to  the  free  and  full  offer  of  the  Gospel  to  every  crea- 
ture, proportionate  to  the  place  these  subjects  occupy  in  the  Word  of 
God. 

Attest:  John  G.  Rankin,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    SOLOMON. 

i.  As  the  first  clause  in  Chxpter  III.,  Section  t,  seems  liable  to  the 
charge  of  fatalism,  notwithstanding  the  disclaimer  in  the  second  clause, 
it  would  have  been  better  to  express  the  doctrine  of  the  Divine  Sov- 
ereignty in  the  first  clause  so  as  not  to  be  in  apparent  conflict  with  the 
statements  of  the  second  clause. 

We  therefore  recommend  that  it  be  changed  so  as  to  read  as  fol- 
lows : 

"God  from  all  eternity  did  by  the  most  wise  and  holy  counsel  of  his 
own  will  freely  and  unchangeably  so  order  whatsoever  comes  to  pass 
as  to  accomplish  his  eternal  purposes." 

2.  We  recommend  the  omission  of  Section  4  of  this  chapter,  and 
also  the  last  clause  of  Section  6,  as  being  unnecessary,  and  perhaps 
justly  open  to  unfavorable  criticism. 

3.  We  recommend  the  omission  of  the  word  "elect"  from  the 
first  clause  of  Section  3,  Chapter  X. 

Also  the  last  clause  of  Section  4  of  the  same  chapter,  beginning 
with  the  words  "much  less." 

4.  We  recommend  the  omission  of  all  but  the  first  clause  in  Chap- 
ter XXV.,  Section  6;  inasmuch  as  the  characterization  of  the  Pope 
there  given,  though  it  may  be  just,  is  not  required  in  a  creed.  The 
denouncing  of  his  pretensions  in  the  first  clause  is  sufficient. 


SCHUYLER  TO  SOUTHERN  OREGON.  95 

Perhaps  some  other  slight  changes  might  be  profitably  made. 

Your  committee  believe  that  burdened  consciences  will  be  relieved, 
and  the  usefulness  of  the  Confession  will  be  increased,  by  such  changes 
in  the  Confession  as  we  here  recommend. 

Attest:  F.  E.  Thompson,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    SOUTHERN   DAKOTA. 

First,  That  we  do  not  desire,  and  would  not  consent  to,  any  such 
revision  as  would  change  or  impair  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in 
the  Confession,  which  we  sincerely  receive  and  adopt  in  all  the  essen- 
tial and  necessary  articles  thereof  as  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in 
the  Holy  Scriptures.  In  entire  consistency  with  this  declaration  we 
believe  and  declare  : 

Secondly,  That  there  are  in  the  Confession  some  statements  of  doc- 
trine which  can  be,  and  ought  to  be  amended  so  as,  in  the  matter  of 
prominence  given  to  particular  doctrines,  to  bring  them  more  into 
harmony  with  the  teaching  of  Scripture,  and  with  the  faith  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

1.  Insert  "  for  their  sins"  after  the  word  "foreordained,''  making 
this  section  read:  "  By  the  decree  of  God,  for  the  manifestation  of 
his  glory,  some  men  and  angels  are  predestinated  unto  everlasting 
life,  and  others  foreordained,  for  their  sins,  to  everlasting  death." 

2.  Omit  Sections  4  and  7,  Chapter  III. 

3.  Insert  in  Chapter  III.  a  clear  declaration  of  God's  infinite  love 
for  all  men.  "That  God  so  loved  the  world  as  to  provide,  by  the 
gift  of  his  Son,  a  way  of  salvation,  which  in  the  Gospel  is  freely  offered 
to  all.  That  God  has  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  sinners,  but  desires 
that  all  should  repent  and  live.  That  every  man  who  hears  the  Gos- 
pel is  responsible  for  his  acceptance  or  rejection  of  its  free  offer  of 
eternal  life." 

4.  Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  omit  "elect  "  before  infants. 

5.  Chapter  XIV.,  Section  1,  substitute  "sinners"  for  "the  elect." 
"The  grace  of  faith,  whereby  sinners  are  enabled  to  believe  to  the 
saving  of  their  souls,  is  the  work  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ,"  etc. 

Attest :  T.  B.  Boughton,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    SOUTHERN    OREGON. 

The  Presbytery  of  Southern  Oregon,  while  reaffirming  their 
unswerving  loyalty  to  the  system  of  doctrine  contained  in  the  Confes- 
sion  of    Faith,    and   recording   itself  as   opposing   anything   like    a 


96  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

tendency   to    mar    the    integrity    of     that   system ,     do    answer    the 
Assembly's  overture  in  the  affirmative. 

To  the  second  question  in  the  Assembly's  overture  we  reply,  that 
we  refer  particularly  to  certain  expressions  and  statements  as  well 
known  to  be  contained  in  the  third  and  tenth  Chapters ;  but  as  to  the 
extent  and  definite  form  of  these  desired  changes,  we  prefer  to  leave 
to  the  wisdom  and  skill  of  the  Assembly's  committee,  and  to  the 
subsequent  satisfaction  of  the  Presbyteries. 

Attest:  F.  G.  Strange,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    SOUTH    FLORIDA. 

i.  If  by  a  "revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith"  we  are  to  under- 
stand some  rending  out  from  the  old  fabric  for  the  putting  in  of  new, 
then  we  answer  in  the  negative — -we  do  not  desire  such  a  revision. 
Our  "system  of  doctrine"  is  too  closely  woven  for  this  to  be  either 
successfully  or  acceptably  done.  At  best  it  would  be  new  cloth 
patched  into  the  old  garment,  and  the  result  just  such  as  our  Master 
himself  has  indicated. 

2.  If  by  a  "revision  of  the  Confession"  we  are  to  understand  a 
new  Confession,  which  would  be  either  more  than,  or  less  than,  or 
other  than  the  "system  of  doctrine"  we  now  have,  then  again  the 
answer  of  this  Presbytery  is  in  the  negative — we  do  not  want  a  new 
Confession.  The  time  was  when  we  each  one  said  unto  God  and  our 
brethren,  "  We  sincerely  receive  and  adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith 
of  this  Church  as  containing  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures,"  and  we  have  neither  changed  nor  gone  back  on 
this.     But, 

3.  If  by  a  "revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith"  we  may  under- 
stand such  a  new  setting  of  the  old  symbol,  that  while  preserving  this 
"system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scripture"  in  its  integrity 
it  will  make  more  prominent  the  sovereignty  of  God's  love  in  its 
urgent  quest  after  the  sinner  to  save  him  rather  than  to  destroy  him, 
softening  the  sharp  edge  of  judgment  and  spreading  the  light  of 
divine  and  unresting  solicitude  over  all  the  dark  domain  of  sin  and 
ruin — then  the  answer  of  this  Presbytery  is  in  the  affirmative. 

*  *  *  *  Tn  brief^  then,  we  want  it  [revision]  in  the  form  and 
to  the  extent  of  a  new  setting  of  the  entire  symbol. 

Attest:  J.  H.  Potter,  Stated  Clerk. 


SOUTH    FLORIDA    TO    STOCKTON.  97 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    STEUBEN. 


We  do  not  desire  any  such  changes  as  would  endanger  the  integrity 
of  our  system  of  doctrine  or  impair  the  essential  articles  of  our  faith 
contained  in  the  Confession,  to  which  we  are  bound  by  many  historic 
and  personal  ties.  But  we  do  desire  certain  changes  which  seem  to 
us  urgently  needed  and  widely  demanded. 

i.  That  the  third  Chapter  be  so  recast  as  to  teach  these  things 
only,  and  these  distinctly  :  The  divine  sovereignty  in  election,  the 
equal  love  of  God  to  all  mankind,  a  salvation  in  Jesus  Christ  provided 
for  and  available  for  every  sinner,  and  to  be  preached  to  every  crea- 
ture for  immediate  acceptance. 

2.  That  the  tenth  Chapter  be  so  revised  that  no  discrimination  be 
made  or  implied  concerning  "infants  dying  in  infancy,"  ("Section  3). 
That  Section  4  be  so  changed  as  to  teach  that  God  is  no  respecter  of 
persons,  but  in  every  nition  he  that  feareth  him  and  worketh  right- 
eousness is  acceptable  to  him;  and  not  to  teach  the  damnation  of  all 
heathen,  nor  deny  that  there  may  be  heathen  who  are  saved  by  Christ 
through  the  Spirit. 

3.  That  Chapter  XXIV.,  Section  3,  be  so  changed  as  to  omit  all 
reference  to  Catholics  as  idolaters;  and  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6, 
so  changed  as  not  to  designate  the  Pope  as  Antichrist,  man  of  sin  and 
son  of  perdition. 

Attest :  M.  N.  Preston,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  STEUBENVILLE. 

i.  We  are  opposed  to  any  change  in  the  Standards  that  will  impair 
the  system  of  doctrine  known  as  the  Calvinistic  system. 

2.  The  Presbytery  of  Steubenville,  without  indicating  any  special 
changes,  would  respectfully  urge  the  General  Assembly  that  if 
revision  is  made,  only  such  changes  be  made  as  would  free  the  Con- 
fession from  misunderstanding  and  misapprehension. 

Attest :  Edward  D.  Ledyard,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  STOCKTON. 

Your  committee  would  further  state  its  belief  that  to  a  large  majority 
the  least  possible  revision  would  be  a  restatement  or  omission  of  Chap- 
ter III.,  Sections  3  and  4,  and  Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  and  also  the 
last  sentence  of  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6. 


98  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

Your  committee  would  furthermore  report  that  we  believe  there  is  a 
general  desire  for  a  fuller  statement  in  our  Confession  of  God's  love 
to  a  perishing  world,  and  a  deeper  emphasis  of  the  Church's  obliga- 
tion to  the  Great  Commission. 

Finally,  your  committee  has  full  confidence  that  the  General  Assem- 
bly will  appoint  a  committee  that  will  make  such  changes  in  our  pres- 
ent Confession  of  Faith,  as  will  prove  satisfactory  to  the  Church  at 
large,  and  that  without  disturbing  to  any  appreciable  extent  the  peace 
and  unity  already  prevailing  within  her  borders,  and  will  not  impair 
the  system  of  doctrine. 

Adopted  by  the  Presbytery. 

Attest :  G.  W.  Lyons,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OP"  SYRACUSE. 

The  inquiry  thus  formulated  seems  to  your  committee  two-fold.  It 
may  be  answered  in  one  of  two  ways.  Seeking  to  know  from  the 
Presbytery  "  in  what  respects  "  a  revision  shall  be  made  of  the  Confes- 
sion, the  General  Assembly  would  ask  for  those  particular  alterations 
or  amendments  in  the  present  Confession  which  are  desired.  When 
in  addition  to  this  form  of  the  question  the  General  Assembly  asks  of 
the  Presbyteries,  "To  what  extent"  they  would  carry  this  revision? 
it  seems  to  your  committee  that  an  open  door  is  made  for  the  consid- 
eration of  the  question  as  to  whether  or  not  it  is  desirable  for  "the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America"  to  formulate  a 
new  statement  of  its  belief. 

The  committee,  in  its  discussion  of  the  first  of  these  points,  did  not 
attempt  to  particularize  any  doctrine  or  phrase  in  the  present  Confes- 
sion, which,  if  expurgated  altogether,  or  changed  in  any  part,  would 
bring  the  Confession  into  harmony  with  the  thought  and  expression  of 
even  the  most  conservative  mind  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  to-day. 

The  committee  attempted  no  work  of  verbal  criticism  or  verbal  sug- 
gestion. Only  in  a  general  way  was  there  allusion  made  to  the  third 
and  tenth  Chapters  of  the  Confession  ;  but  the  feeling  and  conviction 
were  most  earnest  that  here  and  elsewhere  throughout  the  Confession, 
no  room  shall  be  left  for  any  intelligent  soul  to  doubt  that  we  Presby- 
terians believe  that  of  all  infants  dying  in  infancy,  not  one  of  them 
shall  perish,  and  that  sufficiencies  of  grace  and  merit  are  found  in 
Jesus  Christ  for  the  salvation  of  all,  "  whosoever  will."  If  it  shall 
be  the  decision  of  the  Presbytery  to  specify  to  the  General  Assembly 
alterations  in  the  present  Confession,  the  committee  would  recommend 


SYRACUSE.  99 

that  no  part  of  the  Confession  be  wanting  in  the  assertion  or  inference 
of  God's  love  for  all  mankind,  of  salvation  in  Christ  Jesus  provided 
for  all,  and  to  be  preached  to  every  creature. 

But  your  committee,  in  deliberating  upon  this  whole  matter,  were 
drawn  into  an  entire  unanimity  of  judgment  as  to  the  second  point  sug- 
gested in  the  second  question  raised  by  the  General  Assembly,  i.  c, 
"To  what  extent"  would  you  revise  the  Confession? 

It  may  not  be  deemed  improper  in  this  report  to  mention  some  of 
the  most  weighty  considerations  which  met  the  committee  in  discuss- 
ing this  point. 

The  Westminster  Confession  can  not  well  be  altered  in  any  of  its 
parts.  It  stands  a  structure  of  logic  so  stately  and  symmetrical,  that 
any  subtraction  or  addition  would  destroy  its  grand  proportions.  It 
was  struck  out  in  the  awful  exigencies  of  a  great  crisis,  and  like  every- 
thing so  created,  it  was  struck  out  entire.  And  then,  in  this  work  of 
pulling  down  and  rebuilding,  whose  plan  shall  be  followed  ?  While, 
perhaps,  a  majority  would  restrict  the  work  of  demolition  to  the  third 
and  tenth  Chapters,  there  are  others  who  would  begin  at  the  very  first, 
toppling  into  the  dust  the  towering  porch.  And  at  the  best  it  was  felt  by 
your  committee  that  a  creed  so  magnificent  even  as  this,  had  its  genesis 
in  an  age  different  from  our  own,  in  its  philosophy,  in  its  language,  in 
its  governmental  forms,  in  its  views  of  man's  wants  and  capacities,  in 
its  views  of  God's  love  and  help,  in  its  views,  too,  of  the  duties 
which  belong  to  Cnristians,  and  the  world-wide  enterprises  and  vic- 
tories to  which  God  has  called  his  Cliurch. 

A  new  expression  for  these  fuller  revelations  of  God  to  his  dear 
children  is  needed  if  we  would  in  any  fitting  way  sum  up  the  belief 
of  the  Church  to-day.  The  very  scene  which  has  been  going  on,  and 
which  is  to  be  continued  in  every  quarter  of  our  land,  and  in  every 
quarter  of  the  world  where  Presbyterians  are  found,  is  the  mightiest 
argument  conceivable  for  a  new  statement  of  Christian  belief.  The 
great  debates  in  our  denominational  journals,  magazines  and  gather- 
ings have  been  as  to  what  meaning  is  to  be  given  to  this  and  that 
clause,  and  even  words,  in  the  Confession.  There  are  vastly  different 
interpretations  of  the  very  language  of  this  creed,  and  contradictions 
endless  among  its  defenders.  We  need  "a  declaration  of  those 
things  which  are  most  surely  believed  among  us."  Your  committee 
feel  that  the  Confession  of  the  Westminster  divines,  so  grand  in  itself, 
and  so  associated  with  the  progress  of  the  Church,  ought  to  stand  in 
its  unimpaired  integrity — a  monument,  marking  a  great  epoch — the 
beginning  and  the  close  of  a  splendid  stadium.  By  the  same  law  and 
right  and  obligation  which  these  ancient  worthies  had,  and  claimed  to 


100  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

have,  to  shape  a  creed  which  should  express  their  belief,  and  their 
sense  of  need,  so  have  we  of  this  far-off  generation,  the  very  same  to 
give  expression  to  the  new  phases  of  the  old  belief,  to  a  new  sense  of 
altogether  new  duties,  new  oppositions  and  new  opportunities  which 
confront  us  at  the  very  opening  of  the  twentieth  century  of  our  Chris- 
tianity. With  profound  reverence  for  the  Westminster  Confession  as 
a  symbol  of  a  mighty  belief  of  a  mighty  time  in  the  past,  glorying  in 
it,  apologizing  not  one  whit  for  it,  we  would  simply  let  it  be,  and 
with  not  less  reverent  hands  than  those  which  reared  that  great  struc- 
ture, we  of  to-day  would  build  a  simpler  Confession,  a  more  catholic 
creed,  a  more  missionary  symbol  of  our  Christian  belief  and  duty. 

The  committee  were  thus  of  one  heart  and  of  one  mind  in  their 
affirmation  of  desire  for  a  new  creed.  They  felt  that  if  the  General 
Assembly  were  presented  with  the  various  revisions  of  the  old  Confes- 
sion and  perhaps  the  varying  new  creeds  of  many  Presbyteries,  there 
would  be  only  confusion  in  the  work  of  harmonizing  them  all.  In 
the  judgment  of  the  committee,  a  few  of  the  very  wisest  men  in  the 
great  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United  States  can  be  named  by  the 
General  Assembly  as  men  who,  with  the  help  of  God  and  in  the 
inspiration  of  the  prayers  of  all  the  Church,  shall  give  declaration  of 
its  belief  in  a  Confession  which  will  be  so  catholic  that  all  branches  of 
the  one  Church,  "  holding  fast  the  Head,"  can  join  in  its  rehearsal; 
that  children,  under  the  impression  of  its  simple  and  majestic  truths, 
shall  be  drawn  to  its  utterance  ;  that  all  Christian  believers,  catching 
its  spirit  of  missionary  love  and  self-denial,  shall  be  filled  with  a  hope 
and  devotion  which  will  conquer  the  world  for  Christ ;  that  sinners 
and  gainsayers  may  be  confounded  and  converted  by  its  simplicity 
and.  truth. 

Adopted  unanimously  by  the  Presbytery. 

Attest :  A.  H.  Fahnestock,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBVTERY  OF  TRANSYLVANIA. 

Make  such  changes  as  will  remove  any  semblance  of  fatalism  to 
weak  minds  in  the  third  Chapter,  or  any  doubt  as  to  the  salvation  of 
infants  in  the  tenth  Chapter. 

Let  Chapter  XXV,  Section  6,  be  amended  so  as  to  read,  "There 
is  no  other  head  of  the  Church  but  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

Place  in  the  Confession  a  clear,  distinct  statement  of  the  love  of 
God  to  all  men.    . 


TRANSYLVANIA    TO    UNION.  101 

Presbytery  wishes  to  emphasize  what  the  above  clearly  shows ;  that 
in  expressing  a  wish  for  revision  it  does  so  with  the  understanding, 
that  by  revision  we  do  not  intend  any  remodeling  of  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  which  will  essentially  impair  the  integrity  of  that  historic  system 
of  doctrine,  which  we  reverence  and  love  as  the  most  comprehensive 
and  complete  statement  of  Scripture  truth  extant  in  the  world. 

Attest :  L.  Eddy,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  TROY. 

We    unanimously  submit  all  the  important  and  difficult    questions 
involved  in  this  subject  to  the  wisdom  of  the  General  Assembly. 

Attest:  Arthur  Huntington  Allen,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    UNION. 

.  The  Presbytery  of  Union  is  opposed  to  any  change  in  the  Stand- 
ards that  would  impair  the  system  of  doctrine  known  as  the  Calvin- 
istic  system,  and  would  limit  the  proposed  revision  to  the  changing 
of  certain  forms  of  expression  that  seem  liable  to  misapprehension 
and  misrepresentation,  and  the  elimination  of  some  phrases,  which 
seem  unnecessary,  and  are  apparently  logical  inferences  rather  than 
clear  scriptural  statements  of  doctrine." 

Chapter  III.,  Section  3.  After  the  word  "life"  read:  "others 
are  allowed  to  continue  in  sin  and  suffer  everlasting  death." 

Chapter  III.,  Section  4.     Omit. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  5.  Substitute  "  not  because  of"  for  the  word 
"  without." 

Chapter  III.,  Section  6.     Strike  out  all  after  the  word  "  salvation." 

Chapter  X.,  Section  3.  Change  to  read  :  "  Infants  dying  in  infancy, 
and  all  other  persons  incapable  of  being  outwardly  called  by  the 
ministry  of  the  Word,  are  subjects  of  God's  saving  grace  through 
Christ. 

Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6.      Omit. 

Chapter  XXIX.,  Section  2.    Omit  the  clause  about  the  Popish  Mass. 

Chapter  XXIV.,  Section  8.  For  the  word  "damnation"  put  the 
word  "condemnation." 

Somewhere  insert  a  statement  of  God's  free  offer  of  salvation  to  all 
men. 

Attest :  W.  H.  Lyle,  Stated  Clerk. 


102  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    UTAH. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  3.     Omit  the  last  clause. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  4.     Omit. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  6.      Omit  last  sentence. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  7.     Omit. 

The  insertion  of  a  new  section  which  shall  state  in  substance 
this  :  "  God's  eternal  decree  hinders  no  man  from  accpting  Christ  as 
he  is  freely  offered  in  the  Gospel." 

Restatement  of  Chapters  VI.,  X.,  XXV.,  and  XXX.,  so  as  to 
relieve  them  of  those  objectionable  expressions,  in  reference  to  the 
utter  depravity  of  man  and  his  utter  inability  to  do  anything  good, 
in  reference  to  elect  infants,  the  damnation  of  the  whole  heathen 
world  and  the  Pope  of  Rome  as  Antichrist. 

The  insertion  in  the  proper  place  of  a  more  complete  and  definite 
expression  of  God's  love  for  all  mankind  as  set  forth  repeatedly  in 
such  passages  as  John  iii.  16  ;  1  John  ii.2  ;  1  Tim.  ii.  4  ;  2  Peter  iii.  9. 
A  fuller  statement  of  the  missionary  obligation  of  the  Church  to  carry 
the  glad  tidings  of  the  Gospel  to  all  the  world. 

Attest :  E.  W.  Greene,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    UTICA. 

The  Presbytery  answers  in  the  affirmative,  meaning  by  that  "  affirm- 
ative," no  change  in  our  present  Confession  of  Faith,  but  a  Confes- 
sional change  in  the  direction  of  a  brief,  scriptural,  irenic  creed;  a 
creed  which,  while  it  will  not  take  the  place  of  the  Westminster 
Confession  and  the  Larger  and  Shorter  Catechisms,  will  be  regarded  as 
their  authoritative  explanation. 

2.  The  Presbytery  refers  as  an  illustration  of  such  a  mode  of 
revision,  which  they  believe  to  be  both  feasible  and  desirable,  to  the 
creed  which  has  been  formulated  by  a  committee  of  the  Cayuga 
Presbytery,  and  by  whom  it  will  be  presented  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly. This  Presbytery  would  object  to  the  length  of  that  creed,  to  the 
number  of  subjects  included  in  it,  and  would  desire  a  more  careful 
statement  of  some  of  its  doctrines.  It  is,  however,  in  the  judgment 
of  this  Presbytery,  in  the  right  direction. 

3.  The  Presbytery  of  Utica  for  these  reasons  overtures  the  General 
Assembly  to  take  such  action  as  it  may  deem  necessary  to  secure,  at 
as  early  a  period  as  possible,  such  a  Confessional  change  as  is  herein 
designated. 

Attest :  Dana  W.  Bigelow,  Stated  Clerk. 


UTAH    TO    WASHINGTON    CITY.  103 

THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    VINCENNES. 

We  are  in  favor  of  amending  the  Confession  : 

i.  By  omitting  the  last  clause  of  Section  3,  of  Chapter  III.,  after 
the  word  "  life." 

2.  By  eliminating  Section  4,  of  Chapter  III. 

3.  By  insertiing  the  words,  "not  because  of,"  in  the  place  of  the 
word  "without,"  in  Section  5,  of  Chapter  III. 

4.  By  eliminating  the  last  sentence  of  Section  6,  of  Chapter  III., 
beginning  with  the  word  "Neither." 

5.  By  eliminating  Section  7,  in  Chapter  III.,  and  substituting  in 
the  place  thereof,  something  like  the  following :  ' '  God's  eternal  decree 
hindereth  no  one  from  accepting  Christ  as  he  is  freely  offered  to  us  in 
the  Gospel ;  nor  ought  it  to  be  so  construed  as  to  contradict  the  decla- 
rations of  Scripture,  that  Christ  is  the  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the 
whole  world,  and  that  God  is  not  willing  that  any  should  perish,  but 
that  all  should  come  to  repentance  and  live." 

6.  By  changing  Section  3,  in  Chapter  X.,  so  as  to  read  :  "  Infants 
dying  in  infancy,  and  all  other  persons  who  are  incapable  in  this  life 
of  being  outwardly  called  by  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  are  regener- 
ated by  Christ,  through  the  Spirit,  who  worketh  when,  and  where, 
and  how  he  pleaseth." 

7.  By  omitting  Section  4,  of  Chapter  X. 

8.  By  omitting  all  of  Section  6,  Chapter  XXV.,  after  the  clause, 
"There  is  no  other  head  of  the  Church  but  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

9.  By  inserting  in  some  suitable  place  in  the  Confession,  a  full  and 
definite  statement  of  God's  love  for  all  men ;  the  free  offer  of  salva- 
tion to  all  men;  and  the  obligation  of  the  Church  to  preach  the 
Gospel  to  all  the  world. 

Attest:  Blackford  Condit,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF    WASHINGTON  CITY. 

Chapter  III,  Section  4.     Omit  the  whole  section. 

Chapter  III,  Section  3.  Omit  the  words,  "and  others  fore- 
ordained to  everlasting  death." 

Chapter  III,  Section  7.  Omit  the  words,  "to  pass  by  and  "  and 
"them." 

Chapter  IV,  Section  1.  Omit  the  words,  "of  nothing,"  and  "in 
the  space  of  six  days." 

Chapter  VI,  Section  4.      Ask  the  Assembly  to  so  modify  as  not  to 


104  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

appear  to  deny  the  existence  of  civil  and  social  virtues  in  the  natural 
man. 

Chapter  X,  Section  3.  For  the  first  word  "  elect,"  substitute  "  all" 
so  as  to  read,  "all  infants  dying  in  infancy,''  etc. 

Chapter  X,  Section  4.  Omit  the  last  half  of  the  section,  beginning 
with  the  words,  "much  less  can  men,"  etc.,  to  the  end  of  the  section. 

Chapter  XXIV,  Section  6.  Omit  the  words,  "  or  such  willful 
desertion  as  can  no  way  be  remedied  by  the  C  (lurch  or  Civil  Magis- 
trate." 

Insert  at  some  suitable  place,  as,  for  example,  at  the  close  of 
Section  7,  Chapter  III,  the  following  for  substance  :  "  God's  eternal 
decree  hindereth  no  one  from  accepting  Christ  as  he  is  freely  offered 
to  men  in  the  gospel.  It  should  not  be  so  construed  as  to  contra- 
dict the  declarations  of  Scripture  that  God  so  loved  the  world  that  he 
gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should 
not  perish,  but  should  have  everlasting  life  ;  that  Christ  is  the  propiti- 
ation for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  and  that  God  is  not  willing  that 
any  should  perish,  but  that  all  should  come  to  repentance. 

Insert  at  some  suitable  place,  as,  for  example,  at  the  end  of  Chapter 
XXV,  a  statement  of  the  obligation  and  privilege  of  the  Church  of 
Christ  to  go  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  Gospel  of  divine  love 
and  salvation  to  every  creature. 

In  returning  the  foregoing  answers  and  recommendations  to  the 
General  Assembly,  the  Presbytery  emphasizes  its  loyalty  to  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith,  and  also  its  request  that  the  work  of  revision  be  con- 
fined to  such  changes  in  the  forms  of  statement  as,  without  impairing 
the  system  of  doctrine,  will  remove  ambiguities  which  lead  to  popular 
perversion  and  misrepresentation,  and  bring  it  into  closer  harmony 
with  the  accepted  and  publicly  declared  faith  of  our  Church. 

Attest :  Benjamin  F.  Bittinger,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  WATERLOO. 

i .  That  Presbytery  is  a  unit  in  its  cordial  acceptance  of  and  adherence 
to  the  system  of  doctrine  contained  in  the  Confession  of  Faith,  and 
wholly  averse  to  any  change  which  could  be  construed  as  surrendering 
or  compromising  any  of  the  essential  doctrines  contained  in  our 
Standards.  Yet  we  judge  that  some  of  the  statements  contained  in 
the  Confession  of  Faith  are  ultra-scriptural,  and  we  desire  a  change, 
especially  in  Chapters  III.  and  X. 


WATERLOO    TO    WEST   JERSEY.  105 

We  also  desire  a  fuller  statement  of  God's  love  for  all  men  as  set 
forth  in  Christ's  teaching. 

2.  That  the  atonement  of  Christ  is  sufficient  for  all  men,  and  can 
heartily  be  offered  to  all  men,  and  that  man  is  lost  only  because  of  his 
willful  rejection  of  Christ. 

Attest :  William  Bryant,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  WEST  CHESTER. 

We  favor  no  change  that  will  impair  the  integrity  of  the  system  of 
doctrine  contained  in  the  Confession.  We  propose  the  following 
amendments  : 

Chapter  III.,  Section  3,  insert  "for  their  sins"  after  "foreor- 
dained." 

Chapter  III.,  Section  4,  omit  last  clause,  after  the  word  "designed." 

Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  should  be  so  revised  that  it  may  not  seem  to 
any  to  imply  that  there  are  infants  or  incapables  who  are  non-elect. 

Chapter  X.,  Section  4,  omit  after  the  words  "  and  therefore  can  not 
be  saved." 

Chapter  XXIV.,  Section  3,  strike  out  the  words  "Papists"  and 
"other." 

Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6,  omit  all  after  the  words  "Lord  Jesus 
Christ." 

Chapter  III.,  Section  7,  and  Chapter  XVI.,  Section  7 — we  call  atten- 
tion to  the  need  ol  revision,  but    make  no  specific    recommendations. 

Chapter  IK.,  incorporate  a  clear  and  explicit  recognition  of  the 
love  of  God  to  all  mankind  ;  his  desire  that  all  men  should  turn  to 
him  and  live,  and  his  commission  to  the  Church  to  preach  the  Gospel 
to  every  creature. 

Insert  after  Chapter  VIII.,  a  chapter  defining  the  doctrine  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  to  complete  systematically  the  presentation  of  the  teachings 
of  the  Bible,  as  interpreted  and  believed  by  our  Church,  as  to  the 
being,  attributes  and  works  of  the  triune  God. 

Attest :  W.  J.  Cumming,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  WEST  JERSEY. 

In  answer  to  the  second  question,  the  Presbytery  would  recom- 
mend : 

1.  Whatever  changes  shall  be  made  in  the  course  of  the  revision 
must  be  made  in  such  a  manner  as  in  no  degree  to  impair  the  integrity 
of  the  Calvinistic  system. 


106  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

2.  It  is  desirable  that  changes  should  be  made  in  those  parts  of  the 
Confession  which  relate  to  preterition  and  reprobation ;  to  elect 
infants;  and  to  those  who  have  not  heard,  or  are  unable  to  understand 
the  Gospel. 

3.  We  also  suggest  the  propriety  of  making  prominent  a  full  and 
definite  statement  of  the  love  of  God  to  all  men  ;  and  of  the  free  offer 
of  the  Gospel  to  all. 

4.  We  suggest,  further,  a  careful  revision  of  the  whole  body  of  the 
proof-texts. 

5.  We  do  not  deem  it  our  duty  to  formulate  these  changes. 

Attest  :  Henry  Reeves,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  WEST  VIRGINIA. 

That  the  third  Chapter  after  the  first  Section  be  so  recast  as  to 
present  a  scriptural  and  fuller  statement  of  the  love  of  God  for  all 
mankind. 

Attest :  Aaron  M.  Buchanan,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  WHITEWATER. 

To  the  overture  we  would  recommend  the  answer  "  Yes,"  provided 
that  "  the  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrine  "  contained  in  our  Con- 
fession of  Faith  be  left  unimpaired. 

To  the  second  question  we  would  recommend  the  answer,  that  we 
prefer  to  leave  large  discretion  to  the  Assembly,  and  to  such  commit- 
tee on  revision  as  the  affirmative  answer  of  the  first  question  will  call 
for;  but  would  suggest  changes  in  the  following  chapters  and  sections  : 

1.  That  Chapter  III.,  Sections  2-8  inclusive,  of  the  Confession  be 
so  revised  that  the  doctrines  which  it  contains  may  be  set  forth  in 
more  scriptural  language,  and  such  as  will  emphasize  human  respon- 
sibility and  the  love  of  God  for  all  men. 

2.  That  Chapter  VI.,  Section  4,  be  so  revised  that  while  the  malig- 
nity of  the  corruption  of  our  nature  in  original  sin,  in  so  far  as  all 
spiritual  powers  and  works  are  concerned,  be  set  forth,  yet  that  the 
natural  virtues  which  we  see  exemplified  even  among  the  heathen 
may  not  seem  to  stand  in  the  same  condemnation. 

3.  That  Chapter  VII.,  Section  4,  be  revised  so  that  the  word  "  fre- 
quently "  disappear,  inasmuch  as  there  is  but  one  place  in  the  Scrip- 
tures in  which  the  word  "  testament"  is  used  in  the  sense  intended  by 
the  Confession,  viz.:    Heb.  ix.  15-17. 


WEST    VIRGINIA    TO    WINNEBAGO.  107 

4.  That  Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  be  so  revised  that  it  will  read: 
"All  persons  dying  in  infancy,  and  all  other  persons  who  from  birth 
to  death  are  incapable  of  being  outwardly  called  by  the  ministry  of 
the  Word,   are  regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ  through  the  Spirit, 

'  who  worketh  when,  and  where,  and  how  he  pleaseth.'  '  We  would 
further  recommend  that  Section  4  of  the  same  chapter  be  so  revised 
that  the  operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  "who  worketh  when,  and 
where,  and  how  he  pleaseth,"  be  not  limited  by  the  profession  of  the 
Christian  religion,  or  of  necessity  by  a  scriptural  knowledge  of  the 
truths  of  that  religion. 

5.  Chapter  XV.,  Section  4,  has  the  word  "damnation  used  twice. 
For  the  first  we  would  substitute  "  punishment,"  and  for  the  second, 
"final  condemnation,"  as  this  would  maintain  the  doctrine  taught 
with  equal  truth  and  plainness. 

6.  In  Chapter  XXV.,  Section  1,  fourth  line,  supply  after  "Christ," 
the  words,  "who  is  the  supreme  and  only,"  so  that  it  will  read: 
"The  catholic  or  universal  Church,  which  is  invisible,  consists  of  the 
whole  number  of  the  elect  that  have  been,  are,  or  shall  be  gathered 
into  one,  under  Christ,  who  is  the  supreme  and  only  head  thereof; 
and  is  the  spouse,  the  body,  the  fullness  of  him  that  filleth  all  in  all." 
Then  omit  the  sixth  or  last  section,  which  calls  the  Pope  "  that  Anti- 
christ, that  man  of  sin." 

7.  We  would  recommend  that  Chapter  XXIX.,  Section  1,  be  so 
revised  that  where  the  "  Lord's  Supper  "  is  said  to  be  obligatory  to  the 
end  of  the  world,  the  more  scriptural  idea  be  substituted,  viz.:  "  That 
it  should  continue  until  Christ  come  again." 

8.  That  Chapter  XXX.,  Section  2,  be  so  revised  that  the  power  of 
the  keys  there  committed  to  the  ministry  according  to  Scripture  teach- 
ing, be  plainly  set  forth  as  only  ministerial  and  declarative. 

Attest:  T.  L.  Hughes,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    WINNEBAGO. 

i.  We  desire  that  Chapter  III.  be  so  modified  as  not  to  seem  in 
conflict  with  its  own  declaration,  viz  :  "  Yet  so  as  thereby  neither  is 
God  the  author  ot  sin,  nor  is  violence  offered  to  the  will  of  the 
creatures."  We  desire,  therefore,  that  the  declarations  in  this  chapter 
which  seem  to  imply  an  arbitrary  pre-natal  assignment  of  souls,  be 
expunged,  and  statements  substituted  of  the  love  of  God  for  all  his 


108  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

creatures,  and  the  unquestionably  scriptural  decree  of  God  that  who- 
soever may  and  will  believe  shall  be  saved,,  and  whosoever  may  and 
will  not  believe  shall  be  condemned. 

2.  We  desire  that  Chapter  X.  be  so  changed  as  not  to  conflict  with 
the  proposed  changes  in  Chapter  III. 

3.  We  desire  that  Chapter  IV.  be  so  changed  in  phraseology  as  not 
to  seem  to  tie  the  "  day  of  creation  to  a  period  of  twenty-four  hours." 

4.  Deeming  it  a  needless  assumption  of  authority  for  a  Confession 
of  Faith  to  pass  judgment  against  any  other  communion  by  name,  we 
desire  that  Section  6  of  Chapter  XXV.  be  omitted,  excepting  so  far  as 
it  affirms  for  Christ  the  sole  headship  of  the  Church. 

5.  We  desire  that  the  bearing  of  these  changes  upon  the  related 
parts  of  the  Confession  be  observed,  so  that  all  may  be  consistent  with 
the  new  form. 

6.  In  addition  to  the  proposed  revision  of  the  Confession,  this 
Presbytery  would  respectfully  emphasize  the  desirability  of  a  short, 
comprehensive,  fundamental  epitome  of  Confessional  statement,  put 
forth  largely  in  scriptural  language,  and  in  the  broad,  Christian, 
irenic  spirit  which  pervades  the  heart  and  life  of  the  Church  of  our 
day,  and  which  might  be  a  bond  of  fellowship  between  all  reformed 
churches. 

Attest:  Henry  L.  Brown,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    WINONA. 

Chapter  HI.,  Sections  3,  4  and  7.     Omit. 
Chapter  X.,  Section  1.     Omit  words  "  those  only.'' 
Chapter  X.,  Section  3.      Omit  words  "elect"  before  "  infants." 
Chapter  X.,  Section  4.     Beginning  with  words  "much  less,"  omit 
to  end  of  chapter. 

Attest  :  Robert  J.  Thomson,  Stated  Clerk. 


THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    WOOD    RIVER. 

That  the  changes  be  limited  to  such  as  are  necessary  to  remove 
all  ambiguity  as  to  the  teachings  of  our  Standards,  to  the  intent  that 
they  may  be  brought  into  full  and  complete  harmony  with  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  that  the  doctrines  essential  to  salvation  be  clearly  set  forth. 
Attest:  J.  H.  Barton,  Stated  Clerk. 


WINONA    TO    ZANESVILLE.  109 

THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  ZANESVILLE. 

The  Presbytery  of  Zanesville  reaffirms  its  belief  in  the  system  of 
doctrine  taught  in  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith,  as  the 
teaching  of  the  Word  of  God,  and  stands  pledged  to  oppose  any  and 
every  change  that  would  in  the  least  degree  take  from,  or  in  any  way 
impair,  any  part  of  our  Calvinistic  system  of  doctrine. 

Nevertheless,  we  not  only  concede  the  fact  that  the  Westminster 
symbol,  like  every  effort  of  the  uninspired  mind  to  set  forth  the  whole 
sphere  of  the  heavenly  doctrine  taught  in  God's  Word,  is  not  wholly 
free  from  imperfections,  but  contains  "  infelicities  of  expression,  defects 
and  excesses  of  statement,  and  faults  of  emphasis,"  but  we  also  believe 
that  there  is  no  necessity  or  propriety  in  retaining  in  the  Standards  of 
the  Church  of  this  day  and  generation,  any  generally  conceded  and 
needless  imperfections  that  mar  the  beauty  and  the  excellency  of  our 
cherished  system  of  doctrine,  and  that  undoubtedly  do  expose  it  to 
misunderstanding  and  unmerited  criticism. 

It  is  the  judgment  of  this  Presbytery  that  the  extent  to  which  the 
Confessional  change  shall  be  carried,  and  the  particular  form  it  shall 
take,  be  submitted  to  the  Presbyteries  for  constitutional  ratification, 
and  may  safely  be  left  to  such  large  and  representative  committee  as 
the  General  Assembly  shall  appoint. 

Attest:  Faris  Brown,  Stated  Clerk. 


TABULATED  STATEMENT; 


The  following  Presbyteries  declare  that  they  desire  no  revision 
that  affects  or  impairs  the  integrity  of  the  system  of  doctrine  contained 
in  the  Confession  of  Faith  : 


Aberdeen,  10. 
Alton,  10. 
Athens,  n. 
Austin,  ii. 
Baltimore,  12. 
Benicia,  15. 
Binghamton,  15. 
Black  Hills,  17. 
Bloomington,  17. 
Boulder,  18. 
Brooklyn,  18. 
Buffalo,  22. 
Cairo,  23. 
Cedar  Rapids,  35. 
Chicago,  37. 
Chickasaw,  38. 
Chippewa,  39. 
Cincinnati,  40. 
Cleveland,  41. 
Columbus,  42. 
Council  Bluffs,  42. 
Dayton,  44. 
Denver,  46. 
Detroit,  46. 
Elizabeth,  47. 
Emporia,  48. 
Erie,  48. 
Fargo,  50. 
Flint,  49. 
Fort  Dodge,  50. 
Fort  Wayne,  50. 


Freeport,  52. 
Geneva,  52. 
Grand  Rapids,  53. 
Hastings,  55. 
Highland,  55. 
Holston,  56. 
Hudson,  57. 
Huron,  57. 
Idaho,  58. 
Indianapolis,  58. 
Iowa,  59. 
Iowa  City,  60. 
Jersey  City,  62. 
Kalamazoo,  62. 
Kearney,  63. 
Lackawanna,  63. 
Lahore,  64. 
Lansing,  64. 
Lehigh,  65. 
Lima,  66. 
Logansport,  66. 
Los  Angeles,  68. 
Mankato,  70. 
Marion,  70. 
Mattoon,  70. 
Mexico,  72. 
Milwaukee,  72. 
Monroe,  72. 


Nebraska  City,  77. 
New  Albany,  78. 
Newark,  78. 
New  York,  80. 
Niagara,  81. 
North  River,  82. 
Northumberland,  83. 
Olympia,  84. 
Oregon,  84. 
Otsego,  84. 
Ottawa,  85. 
Petoskey,  86. 
Saginaw,  91. 
St.  Paul,  92. 
Santa  Fe,  93. 
Schuyler,  94. 
Southern  Dakota,  95. 
Southern  Oregon,  95. 
South  Florida,  96. 
Steuben,  97. 
Steubenville,  97. 
Stockton,  98. 
Transylvania,  101. 
Union,  101. 
Utica,  102. 

Washington  City,  104. 
Waterloo,  104. 
Westchester,  105. 


Morris  and  Orange,  75.  West  Jersey,  105. 
Muncie,  75.  Zanesville,  109. — 92. 

Nassau,  75. 


*The  figure     following  the  name  of  a  given  Presbytery  is  the  number  of  the 
page  on  which  the  record  of  its  action  is  to  be  found. 

(110) 


OVERTURE    ON    REVISION. 


Ill 


The  following  Presbyteries  give  expression  in  general  terms  to  a 
desire  for  a  revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith  : 


Benicia,  15. 

Columbus,  42. 
Des  Moines,  45. 
East  Florida,  46. 
Fargo,  50. 
Fort  Dodge,  50. 
Gunnison,  54. 


Kearney,  63. 
Lima,  66. 
Mankato,  70. 
Mexico,  72. 
New  Albany,  77. 
St.  Clairsville,  92. 
Schuyler,  94. 


South  Florida,  96. 
Steubenville,  97. 
Troy,  101. 
Wood  River,  108. 
Zanesville,  109. 


SPECIFICATIONS  OF  CHANGES    DESIRED   IN    THE   CON- 
FESSION. 


Chapter  III 
Alton,  10. 
Austin,   12. 
Bismark,  16. 
Bloomington,   17. 
Brooklyn,  19. 
Cairo,  23. 
Cedar  Rapids,  35. 
Chicago,  37. 
Chickasaw,  38. 
Chippewa,  38. 
Cleveland,  41. 
Columbia,  42. 
Council  Bluffs,  42. 
Crawfordsville,  43 
Dayton,  44. 
Denver,  45. 
Detroit,  46. 
Elizabeth,  47. 
Emporia,  48. 
Flint,  49. 
Geneva,  52. 
Hastings,  55. 
Holston,  56. 


General  re-statement  or  modification. 


Hudson,  57. 
Indianapolis,  58. 
Jersey  City,  62. 
Kalamazoo,   62. 
Lackawanna,  63. 
Lahore,  64. 
Lake  Superior,  64. 
Lansing,  64. 
Larned,  65. 
Lehigh,  65. 
Logansport,  67. 
Los  Angeles,  68. 
Louisville,  68. 
Lyons,  69. 
Marion,  70. 
Maumee,  71. 
Milwaukee,  72. 


Niagara,  81. 
North  River,  82. 
Northumberland,  83. 
Olympia,  84. 
Oregon,  84. 
Otsego,  85. 
Ottawa,  86. 
Peking,  86. 
Rochester,  91. 
St.  Lawrence,  92. 
St.  Paul,  93. 
Santa  Fe,  93. 
Southern  Oregon,  95. 
Steuben,  97. 
Stockton,  97. 
Transylvania,  100. 
Waterloo,  104. 


Morrisand Orange,  74.  West  Jersey,  106. 


Nassau,  76. 
Nebraska  City,  77. 
Newark,  78. 
New  York,  80. 


West  Virginia,  106. 
Whitewater,  106. 
Winnebago,  107. 
Winona,   108. 

Total,  67. 


Chapter  III.,  Section  1. — Revise. 
Solomon,   94. 

Chapter  III.,  Section  2. — Omit  or  revise. 
Chile,  38.  Grand  Rapids,  53. 


112 


ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 


Chapter  III.,  Section  3. — Omit. 
Cleveland,  41.  Denver,  45. 


Winona,  108. 


Chapter  III.,  Section  3. — Various  modifications. 

Boulder,  18.  Mahoning,  69.  Rio  Grande,  89. 

Grand  Rapids,  54.  Monroe,  73.  Union,  101. 

Knox,  63.  Muncie,  75.  Total,  8. 


Chapter  III.,  Section  3. — Insertion. 

Arizona,  10.  Champlain,  36 

Binghamton,  16.  Erie,  49. 


Puget  Sound,  88. 
South  Dakota,  95. 
Brooklyn,   19.  Iowa,  60.  West  Chester,  105. 

Total,  9. 

Section  3: — Omit  the  last  clause. 


Chapter  III 

Aberdeen,  9. 
Baltimore,  13. 
Bellefontaine,  14. 
Black  Hills,  17. 
Boulder,  18. 
Chile,  38. 


Cincinnati,  40. 
Ft.  Wayne,  50. 
Freeport,  52. 
Highland,  55. 
Huron,   57. 


Chapter  III.,  Section  4 — Omit. 


Aberdeen,  9. 
Arizona,  10. 
Baltimore,  13. 
Bellefontaine,  14. 
Binghamton,  16. 
Black  Hills,   17. 
Brooklyn,  19. 
Champlain,  36. 
Chile,  38. 
Choctaw,  39. 
Cincinnati,  40. 
Cleveland,  41. 


Denver,  45. 
Erie,  49. 
Ft.  Wayne,  51. 
Freeport,  52. 
Grand  Rapids,  54. 
Highland,  55. 
Huron,  57. 
Iowa,  60. 
Iowa  City,  60. 
Knox,  65. 
Mahoning,  69. 
Monroe,  72. 


Chapter  III.,  Section  4 — Revise. 

Boulder,  18.  Idaho,  58. 

Ft.  Wayne,  51.  Saginaw,  92. 


Idaho,  58. 
Iowa  City,  60. 
Utah,  102. 
Vincennes,  103. 
Washington  City,   103. 
Total,  16. 


Montana,  74. 
Muncie,  75. 
Puget  Sound,  88. 
Rio  Grande,  88. 
Solomon,  94. 
Southern  Dakola,  95. 
Union,  101. 
Utah,  102. 
Vincennes,  103. 
Washington  City,    103. 
Total,  34. 


Westchester,  105. 
Total,  5. 


Chapter  III.,  Section  5 — Combine  with  Section  3. 
Baltimore,  13.  Denver,  45. 


OVERTURE    ON    REVISION. 


113 


Chapter  III.,  Section  5 — Substitution. 

Beilefontaine,  14.  Denver,  45. 

Cincinnati,  40.  Huron,  57. 


Union,  101. 
Vincennes,  103. 
Total,  6. 


Chapter  III.,  Section  6. — Eliminate  the  last  sentence. 


Arizona,  10. 
Baltimore,  13. 
Beilefontaine,  14. 
Boulder,  t8. 
Brooklyn,   19. 
Cincinnati,  40. 


Erie,  49. 
Ft.  Wayne,  51. 
Highland,  55. 
Huron,   57. 
Iowa  City,  60. 
Muncie,  75. 


Chapter  III.,  Section  7 — Omit. 
Arizona,  10.  Freeport,  52. 


Binghamton,  16. 
Brooklyn,   19. 
Champlain,  36. 
Chile,  38. 
Cleveland,  41. 
Erie,  49. 


Highland,  55. 
Iowa,  60. 
Iowa  City,  60. 
Mahoning,  69. 
Monroe,  72. 
Muncie,  75. 


Chapter  III.,  Section  7 — Modify. 
Boulder,  18.  Ft.  Wayne,  5r. 

Choctaw,  39.  Montana,   74. 

Idaho,  58.  Rio  Grande,  8 

Chapter  III.,  Section  8 — Insertion. 
Cincinnati,  40.  Ft.  Wayne,  51. 

Chapter  III. — Insert  new  Section. 


Arizona,  11. 
Athens,  n. 
Binghamton,  16. 
Brooklyn,    19. 
Buffalo,  23. 
Champlain,  36. 
Choctaw,  39. 


Erie,  49. 
Highland,  55. 
Huron,  58. 
Iowa,  60. 
Mahoning,  69. 
Muncie,  75. 
Petoskey,  87. 


Solomon,  94. 
Union,  101. 
Utah,  102. 
Vincennes,  103. 
Total,  16. 


Petoskey,  86. 
Puget  Sound,  88. 
Rio  Grande,  88. 
Southern  Dakota,  95. 
Utah,  102. 
Vincennes,  103. 
Winona,  108. 

Total,  21. 

Washington  City,  10; 
\Yestchesler,  105. 
Total,  8. 


Puget  Sound,  88. 
Rio  Grande,  88. 
Southern  Dakota,  95. 
Utah,  102. 
Vincennes,  103. 
Total,  19. 


Chapter  IV.,  Section  1. — Revise. 

Ft.  Wayne,  51.  Peking,  86.  Winnebago,  107. 

Northumberland,  83.     Washington  City,  103.  Total,  5. 


114 


ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 


Chapter  V.,  Section  6. — Revise. 
Chile,  38.  Santa  Fe,  93. 

Chapter  VI. — Revise. 
Utah,  102. 

Chapter  VI.,  Section  1. — Revise. 
Boulder,  18. 

Chapter  VI.,  Section  2. — Revise. 
Boulder,  18.  Ft.  Wayne,  51. 

Chapter  VI.,  Section  3. — Revise. 
Morris  and  Orange,  74.  Otsego,  85. 


Morris  and  Orange,  74. 


Chapter  VI.,  Section  4. — Revise. 
Boulder,  18  Grand  Rapids,  54.  Peking,  86. 

Dayton,  44.  Morris  and  Orange,  74.  Washington  City,  103. 


Ft.  Wayne,  51. 


Newark,  78. 


Whitewater,  106. 
Total,  9. 


Chapter  VII.,  Section  4. — Elimination. 
Dayton,  44.  Whitewater,  106. 

Chapter  VII. ,  add  a  new  Section. 
Baltimore,  13. 

Chapter  VIII.,  Section  4. — Elimination. 
Morris  and  Orange,  75. 

Chapter  VIII.,  Section  5. — Substitution. 

Brooklyn,  20.  Highland,  55. 

Cincinnati,  40. 

Chapter  VIII. ,  Section  8. — Revise. 
Grand  Rapids,  54.  Highland,  55. 

Chapter  IX.,  Section  3. — Revise. 
Morris  and  Orange,  74.  Peking,  86. 

Chapter  X.— Revise  in  general. 

Alton,  10.  Cairo,  23. 

Austin,  12.  Chicago,  37. 

Bloomington,  17.  Council  Bluffs,  40. 


Newark,  78. 

Total,  4. 


Newark,  78. 


Detroit,  46. 
Emporia,   48. 
Flint,  49. 


OVERTURE    ON     REVISION. 


115 


Holston,  56. 
Indianapolis,  59 
Jersey  City,  62. 
Kalamazoo,  62. 
Lackawanna,  63. 
Lahore,  64. 


Lansing,  64. 
Los  Angeles,  68. 
Milwaukee,  72. 
Nebraska  City,  77. 
Northumberland,  83. 
Olympia,  84. 


Ottawa,  85. 
Santa  Fe,  93. 
Southern  Oregon,  96. 
Waterloo,  104. 
Winnebago,  108. 
Total,  26. 


Chapter  X  ,  Section  r. — Elimination  and  insertion. 


Arizona,  11. 
Bellefontaine,  14. 

Chapter  X.,  Section 

Bellefontaine,  14. 
Chile,  38. 

Chapter  X.,  Section 
Freeport,   52. 

Chapter  X.,  Section 

Aberdeen,  9. 
Arizona,  n. 
Athens,  11. 
Baltimore,  13. 
Bellefontaine,  15. 
Binghamton,  16. 
Bismarck,  16. 
Black  Hills,  17. 
Boulder,  18. 
Brooklyn,  20. 
Buffalo,  23. 
Cedar  Rapids,  35. 
Champlain,  36. 
Chile,  38. 
Chippewa,  38. 
Cincinnati,  40. 
Cleveland,  41. 
Columbia,  42. 
Crawfordsville,  43. 
Dakota,  44. 
Dayton,  44. 
Denver,  45. 
Elizabeth,  47. 


Crawfordsville,  43. 
Hudson,  57. 


Newark,  78. 
Winona,   108. 
Total,  6 


-Elimination  and  insertion. 


Choctaw,  39. 
Ft.  Wayne,  51. 

3.  —Omit. 

Nassau,  76. 

3. — Revise. 

Erie,  49. 
Ft.  Wayne,  5  1. 
Geneva,  53. 
Grand  Rapids,  54. 
Hastings,  55. 
Highland,  55. 
Hudson,  57. 
Huron,  58. 
Idaho,  58. 
Iowa,  60. 
Iowa  City,  61. 
Knox,  63. 
Lake  Superior,  64. 
Larned,  65. 
Lehigh,  65. 
Logansport,   66. 
Louisville,  68. 
Lyons,  69. 
Mahoning,  69. 
Marion,  70. 
Mattoon,  71. 
Maumee,  7 1 . 
Monroe,  73. 


Iowa  City,  61. 
Monroe,  72. 

Total,  6. 


Montana,  74. 
Morris  and  Orange,  74. 
Muncie,  75. 
Newark,  78. 
New  York,  80. 
Niagara,  81.   • 
North  River,  82. 
Oregon,  84 
Otsego,  85. 
Peking,  86. 
Petoskey,  86. 
Pueblo,  87. 
Puget  Sound,  88. 
Rio  Grande,  88. 
Rochester,  91. 
Saginaw,  92. 
St.  Lavrence,  9.'. 
St.  Paul,  92. 
Solomon,  94. 
Southern  Dakota,  95. 
Steuben,  97. 
Stockton,  97. 
Syracuse,  98. 


116 


ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 


Transylvania,  ioo. 
Union,  ior. 
Utah,  102. 


Vincennes,  103.  Westchester,  105. 

West  Jersey,  106.  Winona,  108. 

Washington  City,  103.  Total,  77. 


Chapter  X.,  Section  4. — Omit. 
Arizona,  11.  Mahoning,  69. 


Elizabeth,  48. 
Freeport,  52. 

Chapter  X.,  Section 

Aberdeen,  9. 
Athens,  11. 
Baltimore,  13. 
Bellefontaine,  15. 
Binghamton,  16. 
Bismarck,  16. 
Black  Hills,  17. 
Boulder,  18. 
Brooklyn,  21. 
Buffalo,  23. 
Cedar  Rapids,  35. 
Cham  plain,  36. 
Chile,  38. 
Chippewa,  38. 
Choctaw,  39. 
Cincinnati,  40. 
Cleveland,  41. 
Dayton,  44. 
Eric,  49. 


Monroe,  72. 

4.  —  Revise. 

Ft.  Wayne,  51. 
Geneva,  53. 
Grand  Rapids,  54. 
Highland,  55. 
Hudson,  57. 
Huron,  58. 
Iowa,  60. 
Iowa  City,  61. 
Lake  Superior,  64. 
Larned,  65. 
Lehigh,  65. 
Logansport,  66. 
Lyons,  69. 
Marion,  70. 
Montana,  74. 
Morris  and  Orange,  74. 
Muncie,  75. 
Nassau,  76. 


Puget  Sound,  88. 
Vincennes,  103. 
Total,  7. 


Newark,  79. 
New  York,  80. 
Niagara,  81. 
North  River,  82. 
Otsego,  84. 
Peking,  86. 
Rio  Grande,  88. 
Rochester,  91. 
St.  Lawrence,  92. 
St.  Paul,  92. 
Solomon,  94. 
Steuben,  97. 
Utah,  102. 

Washington  City,  1,03. 
Westchester,  106. 
West  Jersey,  106. 
Whitewater,  106 
Winona,  108. 

Total,  55. 


Chapter  X. — Insert  new  section. 
Choctaw,  39.  Iowa  City,  61. 

Chapter  XI. — Revise  in  general. 
Highland,  56. 

Chapter  XL,  Section  3. 
Brooklyn,  20.  Cincinnati,  40. 

Chapter  XIV.,  Section  1. — Substitution. 
South  Dakota,  95. 


Newark,  78. 


OVERTURE    ON    REVISION. 


117 


Chapter  XV.,  Section  4. — Substitution. 
Dayton,  44.  Newark,  78. 

Hudson,  57. 

Chapter  XVI.,  Section  7. — Omit. 
Mahoning,  69.  Puget  Sound,  88. 

Chapter  XVI.,  Section  7. — Revise. 
Boulder,  18.  Lehigh,  65. 

Cincinnati,  40.  Marion,  70. 

Ft.  Wayne,  51.  Mattoon,  70. 

Highland,  56. 

Chapter  XX.,  Section  1. — Substitution. 
Hudson,  57. 

Chapter  XXL,  Section  4. — Elimination. 
Newark,  79. 

Chapter  XXI.,  Section  8. — Elimination. 
Newark,  79. 

Chapter  XXII. ,  Section  3. — Revise. 
Freeport,  52.  Newark,  79. 


Whitewater,  107. 
Total,  4. 


Newark,  79. 
Pueblo,  87. 
Westchester,  105. 
Total,  10. 


Niagara,  81. 


Chapter  XXII. ,  Section  7. — Elimination  and  revision. 
Brooklyn,   21.  Logansport,  67.  Louisville,  69. 

Chapter  XXIV.,  Section  3.— Modifications. 

Brooklyn,  21.  Lehigh,  65.  Newark,  78. 

Chile,  38.  Logansport,  66.  Niagara,  81. 

Cleveland,  41.  Louisville,  68.  Niobrara,  81. 

Ft.  Wayne,  51.  Mahoning,  69.  Rochester,  91. 

Geneva,  53.  Morris  and  Orange,  74.  Steuben,  97. 

Hudson,  57.  Nassau,  76.  Westchester,  105. 
Iowa  City,  61.  Total,  19. 

Chapter  XXIV.,  Section  6. — Revise. 
Huron,   58.  Washington  City,  103. 

Chapter  XXV. — Revise  in  general. 
Bellefontaine,  14.  North  River,  82.  Petoskey,  86. 

Nebraska  City,  77.  Total,  4. 


118 


ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 


Chapter  XXV. — Insert  new  section. 
Iowa  City,  61. 

Chapter  XXV.,  Section  i. — Revise. 
Crawfordsville,  43.         Dayton,  45. 

Chapter  XXV.,  Section  2. — Revise. 
Newark,  79. 

Chapter  XXV.,  Section  6. — Omit. 
Dayton,  45.  Union,  101. 


Chapter  XKV., 
Aberdeen,  9. 
Arizona,  11. 
Baltimore,  13. 
Bellefontaine,  15. 
Binghamton,  16. 
Black  Hills,  17. 
Boulder,  18. 
Brooklyn,   21. 
Buffalo,  23. 
Cedar  Rapids,  35. 
Chile,  38. 
Choctaw,  40. 
Cincinnati,  40. 
Cleveland,   41. 
Crawfordsville,  43 
Denver,  45. 
Ft.  Wayne,  51. 
Freeport,  52. 
Geneva,  53. 

The  Presbytery 
this  Section,  90. 


Section  6. — Revise. 

Grand  Rapids,  54. 

Highland,  56. 

Hudson,   57. 

Huron,  58. 

Idaho,  58. 

Iowa,  60. 

Iowa  City,  61 . 

Lahore,  64. 

Lake  Superior,  64. 

Lehigh,  65. 

Logansport,  66. 

Louisville,  69. 

Mahoning,  69. 

Mattoon,  70. 

Maumee,  7 1. 

Monroe,   72. 

Montana,  74. 

Muncie,  75. 

Nassau,  77. 
of  Rio   Grande   protests 


Whitewater,  106. 


Whitewater,  107. 


Nebraska  City,  77. 
Newark,  79. 
Niagara,  81. 
Niobrara,   81. 
Northumberland,  83. 
Oregon,  84. 
Peking,  86. 
Pueblo,  87. 
Rochester,  91. 
Santa  Fe,  93. 
Solomon,  94. 
Steuben,  97. 
Stockton,  97. 
Transylvania,  100. 
Utah,  102. 
Vincennes,  103. 
Winnebago,    107. 
Total,  55. 

against  any  alteration  of 


Chapter  XXVII. ,  Section  4. — Revise. 
Newark,  79. 

Chapter  XXVIIL,  Section  1. — Substitution. 
Bellefontaine,  15. 

Chapter  XXVIIL,  Section  2. — Elimination. 
Newark,  79. 


OVERTURE    ON    REVISION. 


119 


Chapter  XXIX. 
Boulder,  18. 


-Revise. 

Petoskey,  87. 


Chapter  XXIX.,  Section  1. — Revise. 
Dayton,  45.  Whitewater,  107. 

Chapter  XXIX.,  Section  2. — Elimination. 
Union,  101. 

Chapter  XXIX.,  Section  8. — Revise. 
Hudson,   57.  Newark,  80. 

Chapter  XXX.,  Section  2. — Omit. 
Crawfordsville,  43. 

Chapter  XXX.,  Section  2. — Revise. 
Boulder,    18.  Indianapolis,  59. 

Chile,  38.  Marion,  70. 

Dayton,  45.  Newark,  78. 

Chapter  XXXII. — Revise. 
Santa  Fe,  93. 


Union,    10 1. 


Utah,  102. 
Whitewater,  106. 
Total,  8. 


Chapter  XXXIII.,  Section  2. — Substitution. 

Hudson,  57. 

SPECIAL  SUBJECTS. 

1.   Presbyteries  asking  the  insertion  in  the  Confession  of  a  more 
explicit  statement  of  the  Love  of  God  for  the  World. 


Aberdeen,  9. 
Alton,  10. 
Arizona,  it. 
Austin,   12. 
Baltimore,  13. 
Bellefontaine,  14. 
Binghamton,  16. 
Bismark,  16. 
Black  Hills,  17. 
Bloomington,  17. 
Boulder,  18. 
Brooklyn,  20. 
Buffalo,  23. 
Cairo,  23. 
Cedar  Rapids,  35. 


Champlain,  36. 
Chemung,  37. 
Chicago,  37. 
Chickasaw,  38. 
Chippewa,  38. 
Choctaw,  39. 
Cincinnati,  40. 
Cleveland,  41. 
Columbus,  42. 
Council  Bluffs,  43. 
Crawfordsville,  43. 
Dakota,  44. 
Elizabeth,  48. 
Emporia,  48. 
Erie,  49. 


Flint,  49. 
Freeport,  52. 
Geneva,  53. 
Grand  Rapids,  54. 
Gunnison,  54. 
Highland,  56. 
Holston,  56. 
Hudson,  57. 
Huron,  58. 
Indianapolis,  59. 
Iowa  City,  61. 
Jersey  City,  62. 
Kalamazoo,   62. 
Lackawanna,  63. 
Lahore,  64. 


120 


ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 


Lansing,  64. 
Larned,  65. 
Lehigh,  65. 
Lima,  66. 
Logansport,  66. 
Los  Angeles,  68. 
Louisville,  68. 
Mahoning,  69. 
Marion,  70. 
Mattoon,  70. 
Maumee,  71. 
Milwaukee,  72. 
Monroe,  73. 
Montana,  74. 
Morris  and  Orange,  74. 
Muncie,  75. 


Nassau,  76. 
New  York,  80. 
Niagara,  81. 
Niobrara,   8r. 
North  River,  82. 
Northumberland,  83. 
Olympia,  83. 
Oregon,  84. 
Otsego,  84. 
Ottawa,  85. 
Petoskey,  86. 
Pueblo,  87. 
Paget  Sound,  88. 
Rochester,  91. 
St.  Paul,  93. 
Santa  Fe,  93. 


The  Presbytery  of  Rio  Grande  protests. 


Schuyler,  94. 
Southern  Dakota,  95. 
South  Florida,  96. 
Steuben,  97. 
Stockton,  98. 
Syracuse,  99. 
Transylvania,  100. 
Utah,   102. 
Vincennes,  103. 
Washington  City,   104. 
Waterloo,  104. 
Westchester,  105. 
West  Jersey,  106. 
West  Virginia,  106. 
Whitewater,  106. 
Winnebago,  107. 
Total,  93. 
See  pp.  89-90. 


2.   Presbyteries  asking  the  insertion  of  a  statement  of  the  sufficiency 
of  the  Atonement  and  free  offer  of  salvation  to  all  men  : 


Bellefontaine,  14. 
Binghamton,  16. 
Bismarck,  16. 
Black  Hills,  17. 
Boulder,  18. 
Brooklyn,  20. 
Buffalo,  23. 
Cedar  Rapids,  35. 
Champlain,  36. 
Chippewa,  38. 
Choctaw,  39. 
Cincinnati,  40. 
Cleveland,  42. 
Columbus,  42. 
Council  Bluffs,  43. 
Crawfordsville,  43. 
Dakota,  44. 
Elizabeth,  48. 
Erie,  49. 
Freeport,  52. 
Geneva,  53. 


Grand  Rapids,  54. 
Highland,  56. 
Holston,  56. 
Hudson,  57. 
Huron,   58. 
Indianapolis,  59. 
Iowa  City,  61. 
Jersey  City,  62. 
Lackawanna,   63. 
Lansing,  64. 
Lehigh,  65. 
Lima,  66. 
Logansport,  67. 
Marion,  70. 
Mattoon,  7 1 . 
Maumee,  71. 
Monroe,  73. 


Niagara,  81. 
North  River,  82. 
Oregon,  84. 
Otsego,  85. 
Ottawa,  86. 
Petoskey,   87. 
Puget  Sound,  88. 
Rochester,  91. 
St.  Paul,  93. 
Santa  Fe,  93. 
Schuyler,  94. 
Southern  Dakota,  95. 
Steuben,  97. 
Syracuse,  98. 
Union,  101. 
Vincennes,  103. 
Washington  City,  104. 


Morris  and  Orange,  75.  Waterloo,  105. 
Muncie,  76.  Westchester,    105. 

Newark,  78.  West  Jersey,  106. 

New  York,  80.  Winnebago,  108. 

Total,  63. 


OVERTURE    OX    REVISION. 


121 


3.  Presbyteries  asking  a  recognition  of  the   ChurcKs  duty  to  evan 
Belize  the  world. 

Flint,  49. 
Highland,  56. 
Holston,  56. 
Huron,  58. 
Indianapolis,  59. 
Iowa  City,  61. 
Jersey  City,  62. 
Kalamazoo,  62. 
Lackawanna,  65. 
Lahore,  64. 
Lehigh,  65. 
Logansport,   66. 
Los  Angeles,  68. 
Mahoning,  69. 
Mattoon,  70. 
Milwaukee,  72. 
Monroe,  73. 
Montana,    74. 

Morris  and  Orange,  74.  Washington  City,  104. 
Muncie,  76.  Westchester,  105. 

Total,  60. 

4.  Presbyteries  requesting  a  statement  respecting  Individual  Respon 
sibility  for  Salvation. 

Gunnison,  54. 
Hudson,  57. 
Muncie,  76. 
Niagara,  8. 
North  River,  82. 


Aberdeen,  10. 
Alton,  10. 
Austin,    12. 
Baltimore,  13. 
Bismarck,  16. 
Bloomington,  17. 
Boulder,  18. 
Buffalo,  23. 
Cairo,  23. 
Champlain,  36. 
Chicago,  37. 
Chippewa,  38. 
Cincinnati,  40. 
Cleveland,  42. 
Columbus,   42. 
Council  Bluffs,  43. 
Crawfordsville,  43. 
Elizabeth,  48. 
Emporia,  48. 
Erie,  49. 


Newark,  78. 
New  York,  80. 
Niagara,  81. 
North  River,  82. 
Northumberland,   83. 
Olympia,  83. 
Oregon,  84. 
Otsego,  85. 
Ottawa,  86. 
Pueblo,  87. 
Puget  Sound,  88. 
Rochester,  91. 
St.  Paul,  92. 
Santa  Fe,  92. 
Stockton,  98. 
Syracuse,  100. 
Utah,  102. 
Vincennes,  103. 


Alton,  10. 
Bellefontaine,  14. 
Bismarck,  16. 
Brooklyn,  20. 
Buffalo,  23. 


Otsego,  84. 
Rochester,  91. 
Southern  Dakota,  95. 
VVaterloo,  104. 
Whitewater,  106. 
Total,  15. 

5.  Presbyteries  asking  a  fuller  statement  respecting  The  person  and 
work  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

Columbus,  42.  Morris  and  Orange,  75.  Westchester,  105. 

Iowa  City,  61.  North  River,  82.  Total,  5. 

6.  Presbyteries  expressing  confidence  in  the  judgment  of  a  Special 
Committee  to  be  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly. 

Aberdeen,  10.  Chicago,  37.  Des  Moines,  46. 

Austin,   i2.  Columbus,  42.  East  Oregon,  46. 

Bloomington,  17.  Crawfordsville,  43.  Elizabeth,  48. 

Central  Dakota,  36.  Dayton,  44.  Fort  Dodge,  50. 


122 


ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 


Fort  Wayne,  50. 
Hastings,  55. 
Holston,  56. 
Iowa  City,  61. 
Jersey  City,  62. 
Kalamazoo,  62. 
Lansing,  64. 
Logan  sport,  66. 

7.   Presbyteries 

Athens,  11. 
Binghamton,  16. 
Cairo,  24. 
Cayuga,  24. 
Chemung,  37. 
Chickasaw,  38. 
Chile,  38 


Mankato,  70. 
Marion,  70. 
Mexico,  72. 
Milwaukee,  72. 
Nebraska  City,  77. 
Olympia,  83. 
Oregon,  84. 
Otsego,  84. 

favoring  a  brief  popular 

Crawfordsville,  43. 
Gunnison,  54. 
Indianapolis,  59. 
Kearney,  63. 
Knox,  63. 
Logansport,  67. 
Mattoon,  70. 


St.  Paul.  92. 
Santa  Fe,  93. 
Southern  Oregon,  95. 
Stockton,  97. 
Whitewater,  106. 
Zanesville,  109. 
Total,  34. 


creed. 


Morris  and  Orange,  74. 
Nassau,  77. 
North  River,  83. 
Saginaw,  92. 
St.  Lawrence,  92. 
Utica,   102. 
Winnebago,  107. 
Total,  21. 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  "  MINUTES  "   FOR  1890,   P.    129. 

"Paper  No.  21.  Being  Overtures  from  the  Presbyteries  of  Albany, 
Cayuga,  Emporia,  Indianapolis,  Logansport,  Madison,  North  River, 
St.  Lawrence,  Utica  and  Wooster,  upon  a  new  and  brief  creed,  or 
explanatory  statement  of  doctrine  for  practical  use. 

"Your  Committee  recommend  that  in  our  present  circumstances  it 
is  inexpedient  to  take  any  action  upon  this  subject.      Adopted." 

The  Presbytery  of  Lyons  desires  the  Shorter  Catechism  without  the 
Questions  to  be  used  as  a  popular  creed. 

8.    Presbytery  asking  a  fuller  statement  of  the  fraternal  relations  of 
the  several  Christian  Churches. 
Los  Angeles,  68. 

9.    CHANGES    IN    THE    CATECHISMS. 

Larger  Catechism,  Question  196. 
Bellefontaine,    15. 

Larger  Catechism,  Questions  13  and  60. 
Rio  Grande,  90. 

Shorter  Catechism,  Question  107. 
Bellefontaine,    15. 


THE  PORTIONS  OF  THE  CONFESSION  OF  FAITH 

AFFECTED  BY  THE  ANSWERS  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIES. 


CHAPTER    III. 

I.  God  from  all  eternity  did  by  the  most  wise  and  holy  counsel  of 
his  own  will,  freely  and  unchangeably  ordain  whatsoever  comes  to 
pass;  yet  so  as  thereby  neither  is  God  the  author  of  sin  ;  nor  is  vio- 
lence offered  to  the  will  of  the  creatures,  nor  is  the  liberty  or  contin- 
gency of  second  causes  taken  away,  but  rather  established. 

II.  Although  God  knows  whatsoever  may  or  can  come  to  pass, 
upon  all  supposed  conditions;  yet  hath  he  not  decreed  anything 
because  he  foresaw  it  as  future,  or  as  that  which  would  come  to  pass, 
upon  such  conditions. 

III.  By  the  decree  of  God,  for  the  manifestation  of  his  glory,  some 
men  and  angels  are  predestinated  unto  everlasting  life,  and  others 
fore-ordained  to  everlasting  death. 

IV.  These  angels  and  men,  thus  predestinated  and  fore-ordained, 
are  particularly  and  unchangeably  designed ;  and  their  number  is  so 
certain  and  definite  that  it  can  not  be  either  increased  or  diminished. 

V.  Those  of  mankind  that  are  predestinated  unto  life,  God,  before 
the  foundation  of  the  world  was  laid,  according  to  his  eternal  and 
immutable  purpose,  and  the  secret  counsel  and  good  pleasure  of  his 
will,  hath  chosen  in  Christ,  unto  everlasting  glory,  out  of  his  mere 
free  grace  and  love,  without  any  foresight  of  faith  or  good  works,  or 
perseverance  in  either  of  them,  or  any  other  thing  in  the  creature,  as 
conditions,  or  causes  moving  him  thereunto;  and  all  to  the  praise  of 
his  glorious  grace. 

VI.  As  God  hath  appointed  the  elect  unto  glory,  so  hath  he,  by 
the  eternal  and  most  free  purpose  of  his  will,  fore-ordained  all  the 
means  thereunto.  Wherefore  they  who  are  elected,  being  fallen  in 
Adam,  are  redeemed  by  Christ,  are  effectually  called  unto  faith  in 
Christ  by  his  Spirit  working  in  due  season;  are  justified,  adopted, 
sanctified,  and  kept  by  his  power  through  faith  unto  salvation. 
Neither  are  any  other  redeemed  by  Christ,  effectually  called,  justified, 
adopted,  sanctified,  and  saved,  but  the  elect  only. 

(123) 


124:  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

VII.  The  rest  of  mankind,  God  was  pleased,  according  to  the 
unsearchable  counsel  of  his  own  will,  whereby  he  extendeth  or  with- 
holdeth  mercy  as  he  pleaseth,  for  the  glory  of  his  sovereign  power 
over  his  creatures,  to  pass  by,  and  to  ordain  them  to  dishonor  and 
wrath  for  their  sin,  to  the  praise  of  his  glorious  justice. 

VIII.  The  doctrine  of  this  high  mystery  of  predestination  is  to  be 
handled  with  special  prudence  and  care,  that  men  attending  the  will 
of  God  revealed  in  his  Word,  and  yielding  obedience  thereunto,  may, 
from  the  certainty  of  their  effectual  vocation,  be  assured  of  their  eter- 
nal election.  So  shall  this  doctrine  afford  matter  of  praise,  reverence, 
and  admiration  of  God;  and  of  humility,  diligence,  and  abundant 
consolation  to  all  that  sincerely  obey  the  gospel. 

CHAPTER    IV. 

I.  It  pleased  God  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  for  the  mani- 
festation of  the  glory  of  his  eternal  power,  wisdom  and  goodness,  in 
the  beginning,  to  create  or  make  of  nothing  the  world,  and  all  things 
therein,  whether  visible  or  invisible,  in  the  space  of  six  days,  and  all 
very  good. 

chapter  v. 

VI.  As  for  those  wicked  and  ungodly  men  whom  God,  as  a  right- 
eous judge,  for  former  sins,  doth  blind  and  harden  ;  from  them  he 
not  only  withholdeth  his  grace,  whereby  they  might  have  been 
enlightened  in  their  understandings,  and  wrought  upon  in  their 
hearts :  but  sometimes  also  withdraweth  the  gifts  which  they  had  ; 
and  exposeth  them  to  such  objects  as  their  corruption  makes  occasion 
of  sin ;  and  withal,  gives  them  over  to  their  own  lusts,  the  temptations 
of  the  world,  and  the  power  of  Satan ;  whereby  it  comes  to  pass  that 
they  harden  themselves,  even  under  those  means  which  God  useth 
for  the  softening  of  others. 

CHAPTER    VI. 

I.  Our  first  parents,  being  seduced  by  the  subtility  and  temptation 
of  Satan,  sinned  in  eating  the  forbidden  fruit.  This  their  sin  God 
was  pleased,  according  to  his  wise  and  holy  counsel,  to  permit,  hav- 
ing purposed  to  order  it  to  his  own  glory. 

II.  By  this  sin  they  fell  from  their  original  righteousness  and  com- 
munion with  God,  and  so  became  dead  in  sin,  and  wholly  defiled  in 
all  the  faculties  and  parts  of  soul  and  body. 

III.  They  being  the  root  of  all  mankind,  the  guilt  of  this  sin  was 


OVERTURE    ON    REVISION.  125 

imputed,  and  the  same  death  in  sin  and  corrupted  nature  conveyed  to 
all  their  posterity,  descending  from  them  by  ordinary  generation. 

IV.  From  this  original  corruption,  whereby  we  are  utterly  indis- 
posed, disabled,  and  made  opposite  to  all  good,  and  wholly  inclined 
to  all  evil,  do  proceed  all  actual  transgressions. 

CHAPTER    VII. 

IV.  This  covenant  of  grace  is  frequently  set  forth  in  the  Scripture 
by  the  name  of  a  testament,  in  reference  to  the  death  of  Jesus  Christ, 
the  testator,  and  to  the  everlasting  inheritance,  with  all  things  belong- 
ing to  it,  therein  bequeathed. 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

IV.  This  office  the  Lord  Jesus  did  most  willingly  undertake^  which, 
that  he  might  discharge,  he  was  made  under  the  law,  and  did  per- 
fectly fulfill  it ;  endured  most  grievous  torments  immediately  in  his 
soul,  and  most  painful  sufferings  in  his  body;  was  crucified  and  died  ; 
was  buried,  and  remained  under  the  power  of  death,  yet  saw  no  cor- 
ruption. On  the  third  day  he  arose  from  the  dead,  with  the  same 
body  in  which  he  suffered  ;  with  which  also  he  ascended  into  heaven, 
and  there  sittetb.  at  the  right  hand  of  his  Father,  making  intercession  ; 
and  shall  return  to  judge  men  and  angels,  at  the  end  of  the  world. 

V.  The  Lord  Jesus,  by  his  perfect  obedience  and  sacrifice  of  him- 
self, which  he  through  the  eternal  Spirit  once  offered  up  unto  God,  hath 
fully  satisfied  the  justice  of  his  Father;  and  purchased  not  only  recon- 
ciliation, but  an  everlasting  inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  for 
all  those  whom  the  Father  hath  given  unto  him. 

VIII.  To  all  those  for  whom  Christ  hath  purchased  redemption,  he 
doth  certainly  and  effectually  apply  and  communicate  the  same ;  mak- 
ing intercession  for  them,  and  revealing  unto  them,  in  and  by  the 
Word,  the  mysteries  of  salvation  ;  effectually  persuading  them  by  his 
Spirit  to  believe  and  obey  ;  and  governing  their  hearts  by  his  Word  and 
Spirit ;  overcoming  all  their  enemies  by  his  almighty  power  and  wis- 
dom, in  such  manner  and  ways  as  are  most  consonant  to  his  wonder- 
ful and  unsearchable  dispensation. 

CHAPTER    IX. 

III.  Man,  by  his  fall  into  a  state  of  sin,  hath  wholly  lost  all  ability 
of  will  to  any  spiritual  good  accompanying  salvation ;  so  as  a  natural 
man,  being  altogether  averse  from  that  good,  and  dead  in  sin,  is  not 
able,  by  his  own  strength,  to  convert  himself,  or  to  prepare  himself 
thereunto. 


126  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 


CHAPTER    X. 


I.  All  those  whom  God  hath  predestinated  unto  life,  and  those  only, 
he  is  pleased,  in  his  appointed  and  accepted  time,  effectually  to  call, 
by  his  Word  and  Spirit,  out  of  that  state  of  sin  and  death,  in  which 
they  are  by  nature,  to  grace  and  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ ;  enlighten- 
ing their  minds,  spiritually  and  savingly,  to  understand  the  things  of 
God,  taking  away  their  heart  of  stone,  and  giving  unto  them  an  heart 
of  flesh  ;  renewing  their  wills,  and  by  his  almighty  power  determining 
them  to  that  which  is  good ;  and  effectually  drawing  them  to  Jesus 
Christ;  yet  so  as  they  come  most  freely,  being  made  willing  by  his 
grace. 

II.  This  effectual  call  is  of  God's  free  and  special  grace  alone,  not 
from  anything  at  all  foreseen  in  man,  who  is  altogether  passive 
therein,  until,  being  quickened  and  renewed  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  is 
thereby  enabled  to  answer  this  call,  and  to  embrace  the  grace  offered 
and  conveyed  in  it. 

III.  Elect  infants,  dying  in  infancy,  are  regenerated  and  saved  by 
Christ  through  the  Spirit,  who  worketh  when,  and  where,  and  how  he 
pleascth.  So  also  are  all  other  elect  persons,  who  are  incapable  of 
being  outwardly  called  by  the  ministry  of  the  word. 

IV.  Others,  not  elected,  although  they  may  be  called  by  the  minis- 
try of  the  word,  and  may  have  some  common  operations  of  the  Spirit, 
yet  they  never  truly  come  to  Christ,  and  therefore  can  not  be  saved  : 
much  less  can  men,  not  professing  the  Christian  religion,  be  saved  in 
any  other  way  whatsoever,  be  they  never  so  diligent  to  frame  their 
lives  according  to  the  light  of  nature,  and  the  law  of  that  religion 
they  do  profess  ;  and  to  assert  and  maintain  that  they  may  is  very 
pernicious,  and  to  be  detested. 

CHAPTER    XI. 

III.  Christ,  by  his  obedience  and  death,  did  fully  discharge  the 
debt  of  all  those  that  are  thus  justified,  and  did  make  a  proper,  real, 
and  full  satisfaction  to  his  Father's  justice  in  their  behalf.  Yet  in  as 
much  as  he  was  given  by  the  Father  for  them,  and  his  obedience  and 
satisfaction  accepted  in  their  stead,  and  both  freely,  not  for  anything 
in  them,  their  justification  is  only  of  free  grace;  that  both  the  exact 
justice,  and  rich  grace  of  God,  might  be  glorified  in  the  justification  of 
sinners. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

I.  The  grace  of  faith,  whereby  the  elect  are  enabled  to  believe  to 
the  saving  of  their  souls,  is  the  work  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ  in  their 


OVERTURE    ON    REVISION.  127 

hearts ;  and  is  ordinarily  wrought  by  the  ministry  of  the  word  :  by 
which  also,  and  by  the  administration  of  the  sacraments,  and  prayer, 
it  is  increased  and  strengthened. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

IV.  As  there  is  no  sin  so  small  but  it  deserves  damnation ;  so  there 
is  no  sin  so  great,  that  it  can  bring  damnation  upon  those  who  truly 
repent. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

VII.  Works  done  by  unregenerate  men,  although  for  the  matter  of 
them  they  may  be  things  which  God  commands,  and  of  good  use  both 
to  themselves  and  others ;  yet  because  they  proceed  not  from  a  heart 
purified  by  faith ;  nor  are  done  in  a  right  manner,  according  to  the 
word  ;  nor  to  a  right  end,  the  glory  of  God ;  they  are  therefore  sin- 
ful, and  can  not  please  God,  or  make  a  man  meet  to  receive  grace 
from  God.  And  yet  their  neglect  of  them  is  more  sinful,  and  dis- 
pleasing unto  God. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

I.  The  liberty  which  Christ  hath  purchased  for  believers  under  the 
gospel  consists  in  their  freedom  from  the  guilt  of  sin,  the  condemning 
wrath  of  God,  the  curse  of  the  moral  law ;  and  in  their  being  deliv- 
ered from  this  present  evil  world,  bondage  to  Satan,  and  dominion  of 
sin,  from  the  evil  of  afflictions,  the  sting  of  death,  the  victory  of  the 
grave,  and  everlasting  damnation;  as  also  in  their  free  access  to  God, 
and  their  yielding  obedience  unto  him,  not  out  of  slavish  fear,  but  a 
child-like  love,  and  a  willing  mind.  All  which  were  common  also  to 
believers  under  the  law ;  but  under  the  New  Testament,  the  liberty  of 
Christians  is  further  enlarged  in  their  freedom  from  the  yoke  of  the 
ceremonial  law,  to  which  the  Jewish  church  was  subjected  ;  and  in 
greater  boldness  of  access  to  the  throne  of  grace,  and  in  fuller  com- 
munications of  the  free  Spirit  of  God,  than  believers  under  the  law 
did  ordinarily  partake  of. 

CHAPTER   xxr. 

IV.  Prayer  is  to  be  made  for  things  lawful,  and  for  all  sorts  of  men 
living,  or  that  shall  live  hereafter ;  but  not  for  the  dead,  nor  for  those 
of  whom  it  may  be  known  that  they  have  sinned  the  sin  unto  death. 

VIII.  This  Sabbath  is  then  kept  holy  unto  the  Lord,  when  men, 
after  a  due  preparing  of  their  hearts,  and  ordering  of  their  common 
affairs  beforehand,  do  not  only  observe  an  holy  rest  all  the  day  from 


128  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

their  own  works,  words  and  thoughts,  about  their  worldly  employ- 
ments and  recreations ;  but  also  are  taken  up  the  whole  time  in  the 
public  and  private  exercises  of  his  worship,  and  in  the  duties  of  neces- 
sity and  mercy. 

CHAPTER    XXII. 

III.  Whosoever  taketh  an  oath  ought  duly  to  consider  the  weight- 
iness  of  so  solemn  an  act,  and  therein  to  avouch  nothing  but  what  he 
is  fully  persuaded  is  the  truth.  Neither  may  any  man  bind  himself  by 
oath  to  anything  but  what  is  good  and  just,  and  what  he- believeth  so 
to  be,  and  what  he  is  able  and  resolved  to  perform.  Yet  it  is  a  sin  to 
refuse  an  oath  touching  anything  that  is  good  and  just,  being  imposed 
by  lawful  authority. 

VII.  No  man  may  vow  to  do  anything  forbidden  in  the  Word  of 
God,  or  what  would  hinder  any  duty  therein  commanded,  or  which  is 
not  in  his  own  power,  and  for  the  performance  whereof  he  hath  no 
promise  or  ability  from  God.  In  which  respects,  popish  monastical 
vows  of  perpetual  single  life,  professed  poverty,  and  regular  obe- 
dience, are  so  far  from  being  degrees  of  higher  perfection,  that  they 
are  superstitious  and  sinful  snares,  in  which  no  Christian  may  entan- 
gle himself. 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

III.  It  is  lawful  for  all  sorts  of  people  to  marry  who  are  able  with 
judgment  to  give  their  consent,  yet  it  is  the  duty  of  Christians  to 
marry  only  in  the  Lord.  And,  therefore,  such  as  profess  the  true 
reformed  religion  should  not  marry  with  infidels,  Papists,  or  other 
idolaters  :  neither  should  such  as  are  godly  be  unequally  yoked,  by 
marrying  with  such  as  are  notoriously  wicked  in  their  life,  or  maintain 
damnable  heresies. 

VI.  Although  the  corruption  of  man  be  such  as  is  apt  to  study 
arguments,  unduly  to  put  asunder  those  whom  God  hath  joined 
together  in  marriage;  yet  nothing  but  adultery,  or  such  willful  deser- 
tion as  can  no  way  be  remedied  by  the  church  or  civil  magistrate,  is 
cause  sufficient  of  dissolving  the  bond  of  marriage :  wherein  a  public 
and  orderly  course  of  proceeding  is  to  be  observed ;  and  the  persons 
concerned  in  it,  not  left  to  their  own  wills  and  discretion  in  their  own 
case. 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

I.  The  catholic  or  universal  church,  which  is  invisible,  consists  of 
the  whole  number  of  the  elect,  that  have  been,  are,  or  shall  be  gath- 
ered into  one,  under  Christ  the  head  thereof;  and  is  the  spouse,  the 
body,  the  fullness  of  him  that  filleth  all  in  all. 


OVERTURE    ON    REVISION.  129 

II.  The  visible  church,  which  is  also  catholic  or  universal  under 
the  gospel,  (not  confined  to  one  nation  as  before  under  the  law)  con- 
sists of  all  those  throughout  the  world,  that  profess  the  true  religion, 
together  with  their  children  ;  and  is  the  kingdom  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  the  house  and  family  of  God,  out  of  which  there  is  no  ordinary 
possibility  of  salvation. 

III.  Unto  this  catholic  visible  church,  Christ  hath  given  the  minis- 
try, oracles,  and  ordinances  of  God,  for  the  gathering  and  perfecting 
of  the  saints,  in  this  life,  to  the  end  of  the  world  :  and  doth  by  his 
own  presence  and  Spirit,  according  to  his  promise,  make  them  effec- 
tual thereunto. 

IV.  This  catholic  church  hath  been  sometimes  more,  sometimes 
less,  visible.  And  particular  churches,  which  are  members  thereof, 
are  more  or  less  pure,  according  as  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel  is 
taught  and  embraced,  ordinances  administered,  and  public  worship 
performed  more  or  less  purely  in  them. 

V.  The  purest  churches  under  heaven  are  subject  both  to  mixture 
and  error :  and  some  have  so  degenerated,  as  to  become  no  churches 
of  Christ,  but  synagogues  of  Satan.  Nevertheless,  there  shall  be 
always  a  church  on  earth,  to  worship  God  according  to  his  will. 

VI.  There  is  no  other  head  of  the  church  but  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Nor  can  the  Pope  of  Rome  in  any  sense  be  head  thereof;  but  is  that 
antichrist,  that  man  of  sin,  and  son  of  perdition,  that  exalteth  himself, 
in  the  church,  against  Christ,  and  all  that  is  called  God. 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 

IV.  There  be  only  two  sacraments  ordained  by  Christ  our  Lord  in 
the  Gospel,  that  is  to  say,  baptism  and  the  supper  of  the  Lord; 
neither  of  which  may  be  dispensed  by  any,  but  by  a  minister  of  the 
word,  lawfully  ordained. 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

I.  Baptism  is  a  sacrament  of  the  New  Testament,  ordained  by 
Jesus  Christ,  not  only  for  the  solemn  admission  of  the  party  baptized 
into  the  visible  church,  but  also  to  be  unto  him  a  sign  and  seal  of  the 
covenant  of  grace,  of  his  ingrafting  into  Christ,  of  regeneration,  of 
remission  of  sins,  and  of  his  giving  up  unto  God,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  to  walk  in  newness  of  life  :  which  sacrament  is,  by  Christ's 
own  appointment,  to  be  continued  in  his  church  until  the  end  of  the 
world. 

II.  The  outward  element  to  be  used  in  this  sacrament  is  water, 
wherewith  the  party  is  to  be  baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and 


130  ANSWERS    OF    PRESBYTERIES. 

of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  law- 
fully called  thereunto. 

CHAPTER    XXIX. 

I.  Our  Lord  Jesus,  in  the  night  wherein  he  was  betrayed,  instituted 
the  sacrament  of  his  body  and  blood,  called  the  Lord's  Supper,  to  be 
observed  in  his  church,  unto  the  end  of  the  world ;  for  the  perpetual 
remembrance  of  the  sacrifice  of  himself  in  his  death,  the  sealing  all 
benefits  thereof  unto  true  believers,  their  spiritual  nourishment  and 
growth  in  him,  their  further  engagement  in,  and  to  all  duties  which 
they  owe  unto  him;  and  to  be  a  bond  and  pledge  of  their  communion 
with  him,  and  with  each  other,  as  members  of  his  mystical  body. 

II.  In  this  sacrament  Christ  is  not  offered  up  to  his  Father,  nor 
any  real  sacrifice  made  at  all  for  remission  of  sins  of  the  quick  or 
dead,  but  only  a  commemoration  of  that  one  offering  up  of  himself, 
by  himself,  upon  the  cross,  once  for  all,  and  a  spiritual  oblation  of 
all  possible  praise  unto  God  for  the  same ;  so  that  the  Popish  sacrifice 
of  the  mass,  as  they  call  it,  is  most  abominably  injurious  to  Christ's 
one  only  sacrifice,  the  alone  propitiation  for  all  the  sins  of  the  elect. 

VIII.  Although  ignorant  and  wicked  men  receive  the  outward 
elements  in  this  sacrament,  yet  they  receive  not  the  thing  signified 
thereby;  but  by  their  unworthy  coming  thereunto  are  guilty  of  the 
body  and  blood  of  the  Lord,  to  their  own  damnation.  Wherefore  all 
ignorant  and  ungodly  persons,  as  they  are  unfit  to  enjoy  communion 
with  him,  so  are  they  unworthy  of  the  Lord's  table,  and  can  not, 
without  great  sin  against  Christ,  while  they  remain  such,  partake  of 
these  holy  mysteries,  or  be  admitted  thereunto. 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

II.  To  these  officers  the  keys  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  are  com- 
mitted, by  virtue  whereof  they  have  power  respectively  to  retain  and 
remit  sins,  to  shut  that  kingdom  against  the  impenitent,  both  by  the 
word  and  censures;  and  to  open  it  unto  penitent  sinners,  by  the 
ministry  of  the  gospel,  and  by  absolution  from  censures,  as  occasion 
shall  require. 

CHAPTER   XXXII. 

I.  The  bodies  of  men,  after  death,  return  to  dust,  and  see  corrup- 
tion; but  their  souls,  (which  neither  die  nor  sleep)  having  an  immor- 
tal subsistence,  immediately  return  to  God  who  gave  them.  The 
souls  of  the  righteous,  being  then  made  perfect  in  holiness,  are 
received  into  the  highest  heavens,  where  they  behold  the  face  of  God 
in  light  and  glory,  waiting  for  the  full  redemption  of  their  bodies : 


OVERTURE    ON    REVISION.  131 

and  the  souls  of  the  wicked  are  cast  into  hell,  where  they  remain  in 
torments  and  utter  darkness,  reserved  to  the  judgment  of  the  great 
day.  Besides  these  two  places  for  souls  separated  from  their  bodies, 
the  Scripture  acknowledged!  none. 

II.  At  the  last  day,  such  as  are  found  alive  shall  not  die,  but  be 
changed  :  and  all  the  dead  shall  be  raised  up  with  the  self-same 
bodies,  and  none  other,  although  with  different  qualities,  which  shall 
be  united  again  to  their  souls  forever. 

III.  The  bodies  of  the  unjust  shall,  by  the  power  of  Christ,  be 
raised  to  dishonor;  the  bodies  of  the  just,  by  his  Spirit,  unto 
honor,  and  be  made  conformable  to  his  own  glorious  body. 

CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

II.  The  end  of  God's  appointing  this  day,  is  for  the  manifestation 
of  the  glory  of  his  mercy  in  the  eternal  salvation  of  the  elect ;  and  of 
his  justice  in  the  damnation  of  the  reprobate,  who  are  wicked  and 
disobedient.  For  then  shall  the  righteous  go  into  everlasting  life, 
and  receive  that  fullness  of  joy  and  refreshing  which  shall  come  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord  :  but  the  wicked,  who  know  not  God,  and 
obey  not  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  shall  be  cast  into  eternal  tor- 
ments, and  be  punished  with  everlasting  destruction  from  the  presence 
of  the  Lord,  and  from  the  glory  of  his  power. 


INDEX  OF  PRESBYTERIES. 


Aberdeen,  9. 
Alton,  10. 
Arizona,  10. 
Athens,  11. 
Austin,  11. 
Baltimore,  12. 
Bellefontaine,  14. 
Benicia,  15. 
Binghamton,  15. 
Bismarck,  16. 
Black  Hills,    17. 
Bloomington,  17. 
Boulder,  18. 
Brooklyn,  18. 
Buffalo,  22. 
Cairo,  23. 
Cayuga,  24. 
Cedar  Rapids,  35. 
Central  Dakota,  36. 
Cham  plain,  36. 
Chemung,  36. 
Chicago,  37. 
Chickasaw,  38. 
Chile,  38. 
Chippewa,  38. 
Choctaw,  39. 
Cincinnati,  40. 
Cleveland,  41. 
Columbia,  42. 
Columbus,  42. 
Council  Bluffs,  42. 
Crawfordsville,  43. 
Dakota,  44. 
Dayton,  44. 
Denver,  45. 


Des  Moines,  46. 
Detroit,  46. 
East  Florida,  46. 
East  Oregon,  46. 
Elizabeth,  47. 
Emporia,  48. 
Erie,  48. 
Flint,  49. 
Fargo,  50. 
Fort  Dodge,  50. 
Fort  Wayne,  50. 
Freeport,  52. 
Geneva,  52. 
Grand  Rapids,  53. 
Gunnison,  54. 
Hastings,  55. 
Highland,  55. 
Holston,  56. 
Hudson,  57. 
Huron,  57. 
Idaho,  58. 
Indianapolis,  58. 
Iowa,  59. 
Iowa  City,  60. 
Jersey  City,  62. 
Kalamazoo,    62. 
Kearney,  63. 
Knox,  63. 
Lackawanna,  63. 
Lahore,  64. 
Lake  Superior,  64. 
Lansing,  64. 
Lamed,  65. 
Lehigh,  65. 
Lima,  66. 

(132) 


Logansport,   66. 
Los  Angeles,  -68. 
Louisville,  68. 
Lyons,  69. 
Mahoning,  69. 
Mankato,    70. 
Marion,  70. 
Mattoon,  70. 
Maumee,  71. 
Mexico,  72. 
Milwaukee,'  72. 
Monroe,  72. 
Montana,  74. 
Morris  and  Orange,  74. 
Muncie,  75. 
Nassau,  76. 
Nebraska  City,  77. 
New  Albany,  77. 
Newark,  78. 
New  York,  80. 
Niagara,  81. 
Niobrara,  81. 
North  River,  82. 
Northumberland,  83. 
Olympia,  83. 
Oregon,  84. 
Otsego,  84. 
Ottawa,  85. 
Peking,  86. 
Petoskey,   86. 
Pueblo,  87 
Puget  Sound,  88 
Rio  Grande,  88 
Rochester,  91. 
Saginaw,  91. 


OVERTURE    ON    REVISION. 


133 


St.  Clairsville,   92. 
St.  Lawrence,  92. 
St.  Paul,  92. 
Santa  Fe,  93. 
Schuyler,  94. 
Solomon,  94. 
Southern  Dakota,  95. 
Southern  Oregon,  95. 
South  Frorida,  96. 
Steuben,  97. 


Steubenville,  97. 
Stockton,  97. 
Syracuse,  98. 
Transylvania,  100. 
Troy,  10 1. 
Union,  101. 
Utah,  102. 
Utica,   102. 
Vincennes,  103. 
Washington  City,  103. 


Waterloo,  104. 
Westchester,    105. 
West  Jersey,  106. 
West  Virginia,  106. 
White  Water,  106. 
Winnebago,  107. 
Winona,  108. 
Wood  River,  108. 
Zanesville,    109. 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


Atonement,  Sufficiency  of 120 

Answers  of  the  Presbyteries 9-109 

Catechisms,  Changes  in  the 122 

Confession,  Portions  of  Text   1 23 

Creed,  Brief  Popular 122 

Evangelization  of  the  World 121 

Love  of  God  for  the  World 119 

Overture  on  Revision  of  1889    4 

Presbyteries,  Index  of 132 

Publication,  Resolution  Authorizing    3 

Responsibility,  Individual 121 

Special  Committee  : 

Requests  for  Appointment 121 

Appointment  of 6 

Instructions 7 

Members 7 

System  of  Doctrine,  Integrity  of no 

Vote  of  the  Presbyteries,  1890    4 


CORRECTION. 


P.  101,  Presbytery  of  Union,  Chapter  XXIV.  8;  should  be  XXIX.  8. 


(134) 


Date  Due 


